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Ocean Truth

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Illustration of a commercial fisher facing rough seas beneath charts, coins and official-looking documents, symbolising how so-called best practice science can mask economic and policy pressures on Australia’s domestic seafood industry.

Illustration of a commercial fisher facing rough seas beneath charts, coins and official-looking documents, symbolising how so-called best practice science can mask economic and policy pressures on Australia’s domestic seafood industry.

Best Practice Science or Best Practice Spin?

Dane Van Der Neut

1 day ago8 min read

Manufactured Dependence in Australia: The Grounded and the Untethered

Manufactured Dependence in Australia: The Grounded and the Untethered

Manufactured Dependence in Australia: The Grounded and the Untethered

Joshua Van Der Neut

6 days ago6 min read

Illustration of Australia sinking into rough seas beside cargo ships and a crate of imported seafood, symbolising Australia’s growing dependence on overseas food and fuel.

Illustration of Australia sinking into rough seas beside cargo ships and a crate of imported seafood, symbolising Australia’s growing dependence on overseas food and fuel.

Elections Have Consequences: How Australia Voted for Import Dependence

Dane Van Der Neut

Mar 186 min read

Man staring in a mirror casting Blame. Fuel Security Crisis

Man staring in a mirror casting Blame. Fuel Security Crisis

Australia’s Fuel Security Crisis Is Also a Crisis of Trust

Joshua Van Der Neut

Mar 136 min read

A stranded commercial fisher sits beside an idle trawler marked “No Fuel” while a distressed farmer sits in a dry paddock near a stationary tractor, symbolising how fuel insecurity threatens both fishing and farming.

A stranded commercial fisher sits beside an idle trawler marked “No Fuel” while a distressed farmer sits in a dry paddock near a stationary tractor, symbolising how fuel insecurity threatens both fishing and farming.

Fuel Security Is Food Security: What Will Australia Eat If the Diesel Stops?

Dane Van Der Neut

Mar 125 min read

Jenga tower illustrating Australia food sovereignty with capacity stack layers including production, processing, logistics, inputs, skills and regulation while blocks labelled abattoirs and fuel security are removed.

Jenga tower illustrating Australia food sovereignty with capacity stack layers including production, processing, logistics, inputs, skills and regulation while blocks labelled abattoirs and fuel security are removed.

Australia Food Sovereignty Is Thinning as Critical Food System Layers Disappear

Joshua Van Der Neut

Mar 66 min read

Queensland fisheries closures timeline showing major fishing bans from 1998 to 2027 and their impact on Australia's seafood supply and food security.

Queensland fisheries closures timeline showing major fishing bans from 1998 to 2027 and their impact on Australia's seafood supply and food security.

Queensland Fisheries Closures Are Putting Australia's Seafood Food Security at Risk

Dane Van Der Neut

Mar 43 min read

The Silent Partner

The Silent Partner

The Silent Partner

Joshua Van Der Neut

Feb 275 min read

Infographic showing Australian commercial fishing closures on one side and rising seafood imports from less regulated overseas fisheries on the other, questioning whether best practice science is exporting environmental risk.

Infographic showing Australian commercial fishing closures on one side and rising seafood imports from less regulated overseas fisheries on the other, questioning whether best practice science is exporting environmental risk.

Is Best Practice Science Actually Best Practice?

Dane Van Der Neut

Feb 254 min read

Too Regulated to Stay Small

Too Regulated to Stay Small

Too Regulated to Stay Small

Joshua Van Der Neut

Feb 205 min read

Graphic showing Western Australian snapper and dhufish underwater alongside an offshore seismic survey vessel towing airgun arrays, with overlaid text reading “WA Snapper & Dhufish Stock Assessments – Show Us the Data or Stop Calling It Science,” symbolising missing fisheries data and industrial activity in the same regions.

Graphic showing Western Australian snapper and dhufish underwater alongside an offshore seismic survey vessel towing airgun arrays, with overlaid text reading “WA Snapper & Dhufish Stock Assessments – Show Us the Data or Stop Calling It Science,” symbolising missing fisheries data and industrial activity in the same regions.

WA snapper and dhufish stock assessments: show us the data or stop calling it science

Dane Van Der Neut

Feb 184 min read

When Fisheries Become a Hobby: The Many Hats Problem in Australian Government

When Fisheries Become a Hobby: The Many Hats Problem in Australian Government

When Fisheries Become a Hobby: The Many Hats Problem in Australian Government

Joshua Van Der Neut

Feb 136 min read

Marine Parks After Three Decades

Marine Parks After Three Decades

Marine Parks After Three Decades

Dane Van Der Neut

Feb 114 min read

Won’t Somebody Please Think of the Food Security

Won’t Somebody Please Think of the Food Security

Won’t Somebody Please Think of the Food Security

Joshua Van Der Neut

Feb 63 min read

Satirical cartoon showing government bureaucrats partying on a sinking luxury yacht labelled “SS Can’t Balance,” while fishermen cling to a lifebuoy marked “Fuel Tax Credits” as a shark labelled “Tax Review” approaches.

Satirical cartoon showing government bureaucrats partying on a sinking luxury yacht labelled “SS Can’t Balance,” while fishermen cling to a lifebuoy marked “Fuel Tax Credits” as a shark labelled “Tax Review” approaches.

Fuel tax credits aren't the problem: budget failure, bureaucratic bloat, and the Net Zero Cult are

Dane Van Der Neut

Feb 44 min read

THE 113-DAY LOCKOUT - THE GHOST FLEET

THE 113-DAY LOCKOUT - THE GHOST FLEET

THE 113-DAY LOCKOUT - THE GHOST FLEET

Joshua Van Der Neut

Jan 305 min read

Political cartoon titled ‘The Landings Lie’. A lab-coated ‘fisheries science’ character controls a fishing boat like a puppet, while ‘CPUE data hidden’ and ‘no access’ signs appear. A closed local fish shop shows ‘imports only’, and the public is blindfolded over ‘depleted stock’ fish bones.

Political cartoon titled ‘The Landings Lie’. A lab-coated ‘fisheries science’ character controls a fishing boat like a puppet, while ‘CPUE data hidden’ and ‘no access’ signs appear. A closed local fish shop shows ‘imports only’, and the public is blindfolded over ‘depleted stock’ fish bones.

The Landings Lie: Stock Assessment Transparency and How Fisheries “Science” Is Gutting Australia’s Seafood

Dane Van Der Neut

Jan 285 min read

THE 113-DAY LOCKOUT - THE 3-DAY WEEK

THE 113-DAY LOCKOUT - THE 3-DAY WEEK

THE 113-DAY LOCKOUT - THE 3-DAY WEEK

Joshua Van Der Neut

Jan 234 min read

Satirical cartoon of a sinking NSW commercial fishing boat labelled 'Industry', weighed down by 'Debt' and 'Quotas', as bureaucrats watch from a luxury government yacht, while imports circle like sharks and a fisherman begs for local seafood access.

Satirical cartoon of a sinking NSW commercial fishing boat labelled 'Industry', weighed down by 'Debt' and 'Quotas', as bureaucrats watch from a luxury government yacht, while imports circle like sharks and a fisherman begs for local seafood access.

NSW Commercial Fishing Reform Failure: Cartel Power Wasn't an Accident, It Was Policy

Dane Van Der Neut

Jan 213 min read

THE 113-DAY LOCKOUT - REGULATED BY NATURE

THE 113-DAY LOCKOUT - REGULATED BY NATURE

THE 113-DAY LOCKOUT - REGULATED BY NATURE

Joshua Van Der Neut

Jan 167 min read

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