User Profile

Phebe Fidge

Phebe Fidge is a marine ecologist passionate about repairing nature and mitigating the effects of climate change. She has over five years of experience in environmental education and science communications with an Honours degree in ecology and conservation biology from the University of Queensland.

Energy Transition

Common Ground: Where a Baby Boomer ex-coal miner meets a Gen Z marine ecologist

Darryl Best and Phebe Fidge are both Illawarra locals and regular contributors to the Illawarra Flame. Despite their vastly different backgrounds – Darryl having worked in coal mines most of his life and Phebe just beginning her career in marine...

Darryl Best

11 hours ago

Science & Nature

Volunteers have a whale of a time at ORRCA Census

ORRCA volunteers celebrated an exciting 26th annual whale Census in 2025, writes Phebe Fidge. It’s another day in paradise, and these volunteers won’t waste a minute! As the sun rises, Jody, Lyndell and Khynan from the Organisation for the...

Phebe Fidge

July 2025

Science & Nature

Sea Change: Meet the tropical species moving into Illawarra reefs

Sometimes we all need a sea change, though few take this as literally as the critters riding ocean currents from one reef to the next in search of a new home. The Illawarra’s kelp reefs have received some unexpected visitors over the past few...

Phebe Fidge

June 2025

Science & Nature

Urchins of Menace

Source: Recipe by Sea Urchin Harvest from Port to Plate: South Coast New South Wales (2025, porttoplate. com. au)

Phebe Fidge

June 2025

Science & Nature

The Grey Nurse Arc: Mystery of missing sharks

The sharks of Bushrangers Bay have returned as mysteriously as they disappeared! Phebe Fidge reports Beneath the swirling waters of Bushrangers Bay, rich kelp reefs bustle with fish and urchins. Purple sea squirts protrude like alien fingers from...

Phebe Fidge

March 2025