Oceans

Perth is in the grip of its hottest spell so far this summer, forcing the closure of a popular tourist attraction as abalone fishing season got underway. 

A natural phenomenon leaves surfers in awe of the "earthquake" wave. 

Authorities say the "best signs" in a "long time" have been observed in the latest round of monitoring of the state's algal bloom crisis.

The body of a Western Australian man missing in waters off Coffin Bay on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula has been found.

Emergency services are searching for a man in Coffin Bay on the state's Eyre Peninsula after the alarm was raised about 1am on Tuesday.

Open water divers say underwater visibility has improved and marine life is returning to some areas off South Australia's coast. Experts say it's a positive sign, but warn it's "way too early" to say the environment is recovering from the state's algal bloom.

Researchers are relieved as baby blue whale numbers increase after a slow start to the migration season.

South Australia's public health chief says there is a need for more data analysis to determine whether there has been an increase in respiratory illness linked to the state's algal bloom.

Locals and marine life experts raise concern over an increased amount of reptiles washing up on WA's north-west shores, with reports of stranded sea snakes and turtles being spotted on beaches.

The State Library of WA is running an appeal to save a set of seaweed scrapbooks made nearly 100 years ago by a renowned Kalgoorlie-born naturalist.

A coroner has found Anthony Higgins, who went missing in 2020 sparking the largest and most expensive marine search in South Australian waters, died two weeks later when he went missing again.

Infrastructure to monitor the impact of rising sea levels and storm surges on the Coorong in South Australia has been installed along the thin strip of coastline between Goolwa Beach and the lagoons of the Ramsar-listed wetland.

Authorities say metropolitan testing shows Karenia algal levels remain low compared with last month, despite thick foam and fish deaths seen on some beaches in recent days.

Claims new artificial reefs being installed in a protected marine park could damage a vulnerable natural coral reef are disputed by Queensland's environment minister.

The South Australian opposition has pledged a $21-million voluntary fisheries buyback scheme, if it is elected next year, to allow commercial fishers to leave the industry amid the harmful algal bloom.

Sydney Water is working to determine the source of high levels of grease and oil that caused debris balls to wash up on beaches across Sydney and the Central Coast.

Operators pushing tonnes of sand across a breakthrough at Bribie Island have officially closed the gap. 

A white humpback calf known as Siale is seen heading north along the NSW coast when most whales are searching for food in the Antarctic Ocean.

Wollongong City Council wants the NSW government to cover the $44,000 cost of recovering a humpback whale that drowned in a Coledale shark net.

A Senate inquiry into South Australia's toxic algal bloom has been tabled highlighting "limitations" in how the government has handled the crisis.