The whale was bellowing out for help - so Brenton Owens weighed up the risks, and acted. A few days later, he received an infringement notice.
In 2024, diver and environmental scientist Brenton Owens and a group of neighbours paddle-boarded out to rescue a humpback whale entangled in a shark net, risking legal action and fines of more than $30,000.
Moved by that experience, he recently kayaked more than 1,300 kilometres from the Gold Coast to Airlie Beach to document the impacts of Queensland's shark control program on wildlife. Joining him were two fellow outdoor adventurers: Australian Survivor 2025 star Kaelan Lockhart, and environment and climate scientist Pierick Martin.
In this episode, Word on the Reef host Tanya Murphy sits down with this inspiring trio to hear about their incredible adventure, the whale rescue that inspired it all, and how Queensland’s deadly shark control devices are impacting vulnerable wildlife.
Notice: It is illegal to approach within 20m of the Queensland and NSW governments' shark control devices. Approaching a distressed animal can lead to injury or death.
Thumbnail Image supplied by Brenton Owens.
This episode is now available in video format on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
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