Joining DolphCom’s expert team of dolphin swim facilitators this summer is leading world dolphin researcher and film maker Elise Bailey. Elise brings with her many years experience as an in-water facilitator and is assisting the development of DolphCom’s comprehensive Pacific Common Dolphin research program. Click here for her full bio and outline of the Dolphin research program.

Dolphin Researcher / Film maker

Join our team as we bow surf with the cheeky common dolphins at our designated interaction area called ‘The gravel patch’. Here we swim with dolphins, using our unique Aquatic Marine Viewing Experience. AMVE is the only swim with dolphins program in Port Stephens. The dolphins we interact with have complete integrity in all our interactions. Our dolphins choose to be with us or not. DolphCom never chase or use behavior modification techniques.

Come and play this weekend! BOOK NOW for the most exciting dolphin swimming in NSW.

Humans and dolphins have been interacting since humans formed organised groups in coastal regions. Our own coastal Australian Aborigines have formed alliances with coastal dolphin pods who assisted them to feed their mobs by driving shoals of fish into bays where they were netted and caught. 

These dolphins were then rewarded with a share of the catch. Dolphins form an integral part of the ‘dreaming’ of coastal Aborigines.

Continue reading "Ambassador Dolphins Banned in U.K – what about Newcastle?" »

Alternative equity market operator, the National Stock Exchange (NSX) opened a new board in September this year devoted exclusively to clean technology stocks. Attracting former United States vice-president Al Gore to its opening, the sustainable and cleantech investment market is attracting companies that are environmentally friendly to list on the new market.

The FEX Sustainable and Cleantech Investment Market (FEX-SIM) is the first of its kind in the world.

“Part of NSXs strategy is to focus on applying its market capabilities and stock exchange licence to a diverse range of markets, and this includes those markets with an environmental focus. “says Richard Symon, CEO, NSX, “by teaming up with FEX we can focus on companies dedicated to identifying and promoting innovative solutions that support the transition to a clean, secure and sustainable future. “

In another move to show it’s green credentials, NSX recently acquired the Waterexchange Pty Ltd. Australia’s premier market for the trading of permanent and temporary water entitlements.

“The acquisition of The Waterexchange is an exciting development for NSX. The Waterexchanges’ knowledge of the complex water industry is second to none. Over thirteen years, the Waterexchange has grown into the largest marketplace in Australia for water, servicing more than forty water brokers and twenty thousand clients in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia,” says Symon.

NSXs acquisition of The Waterexchange continues its move into asset markets other than traditional securities markets. “With the Waterexchange, we will be looking to assist not only water users, but also state and federal governments rationalise water trading”, says Symon. “With water security an issue for all Australians, we are pleased to be able to fulfil such an important role.”

Environmental concerns are not something to which the financial markets have long been attuned. However, the ability of NSX to deliver a range of alternative investments is no longer just a vision. Astute investors can now direct their investments to markets that provide opportunities and serve their environmental concerns, through such markets as FEX-SIM, (and all the better that these markets are operated on a regulated and transparent exchange.)

With the opportunity for investors to view a sustainability index, then the future looks good.

New South Wales is home to the two largest CO2 emitting power stations in Australia, a worldwide survey has found.

According to the survey of 50,000 power stations around the world, NSW’s Bayswater station at Muswellbrook, and Eraring near Lake Macquarie, are the worst emitters in the country.

Both emit 18.32 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

Fairfax newspapers has reported findings of the Carbon Monitoring for Action Database, compiled by Washington think tank the Centre for Global Development.

Among the database’s other findings were that Australians produce 10 tonnes of CO2 per person through energy usage, compared to American’s nine tonnes, and two tonnes for China.

Australia ranks seventh in terms of total CO2 emission from power stations, ahead of Italy, Britain, France and South Korea, the survey also found.

But the US is still the biggest emitter, producing 2.8 billion tonnes of CO2 a year.

China is number two at 2.7 billion tonnes.

The man behind the database, former World Bank executive David Wheeler, said he hoped the survey would motivate governments to take action in curbing carbon emissions.

"Information leads to action," he told Fairfax.

"We know this works for other forms of pollution and we believe it can work for greenhouse gas emission too."

Loy Yang near Traralgon in Victoria was Australia’s third worst polluting power station, followed by Liddell in the Hunter Valley, and Gladstone in Queensland, Fairfax said.