Year in review for 2023 on Norfolk Island’s reef ’, published in December 2023, I made a few observations about the apparent disappearance of some fish species from Norfolk Island’s lagoons. I thought I would revisit these, principally because since December there has been so much additional fish activity here, with some exciting population increases and a few new species turning up ..read more

We have shaped Kingston, Norfolk Island, to suit our own ends, whether it is by draining the swamp, undertaking major earthworks, or by using it for agriculture and grazing. Our interventions have placed the reef at risk. But simultaneously, the confluence of human activity and a unique natural environment have created a place of incredible significance, which deserves some special management to preserve all its facets ..read more

George is a surge wrasse, also known as a green-blocked wrasse, purple wrasse or red and green wrasse, and more formally as a . All Norfolk Island’s lagoon-dwelling surge wrasses are referred to as ‘George’. These guys are insanely, eye-achingly colourful, so I decided they were worthy of a photo dump on these pages ..read more

Read on for a brief ‘Fish eyes 101’ summary of how they work ..read more

The banded scalyfins and the multispine damselfish are arguably two of the most common species in Norfolk Island’s lagoons. People often confuse them, particularly the juveniles, so here are some photos to clarify which are which. Once the differences have been pointed out, you’ll never confuse them again ..read more

This month, I have increasingly noticed a disease that is presenting differently to the white syndrome that we have sadly become used to seeing. With this disease the coral goes grey-ish black and sometimes looks like it is almost dissolving or melting away. The result is a tragedy for the coral. I talk to coral health researcher Associate Professor Tracy Ainsworth about what is going on ..read more

Readers of this website may be familiar with my Facebook page, Norfolk Island Time, on which I cross post my blog posts about Norfolk Island's marine life. I can no longer gain access to that page. It’s been taken over by a random person hell bent on getting a free lunch. But worse is that this particular scam has been doing the rounds for years while Facebook offers little assistance. We should be angry ..read more

Sadly, the year didn’t bring any obvious improvements to Norfolk Island's reef in terms of reductions in incidences of coral disease, or runaway algal growth. And while some fish seem to have departed the scene, another species has re-established its home. Here’s a rundown of what I've been doing during the last four years of observations, and what I've seen happening on our reef in 2023 ..read more

Can Norfolk Island claim the Southern Hemisphere’s oldest surf lifesaving club? Read on to find out more ..read more

A close relative of corals and jellyfish, sea anemones are soft-bodied animals that ensnare passing prey with their stinging tentacles. No one really knows how long they can live, but in the wild they are thought to live for more than a hundred years. They have some clever adaptations that contribute to their longevity. Maybe they can teach us their secrets for a long life ..read more