Katie Watson

In the US, some local authorities have restricted the use of cabanas to stop what's known as beach spreading. So far, nothing like that's been introduced here. But for as long as the summer lasts, this debate will continue.

In the US, some local authorities have restricted the use of cabanas to stop what's known as beach spreading. So far, nothing like that's been introduced here. But for as long as the summer lasts, this debate will continue.

It's 5am, the sun's not up yet, and we're on a speedboat with two government rangers. Today's mission, checking some of the 24 crocodile traps in Darwin Harbour. This is a place where people come fishing, even swimming, and so the idea is to remove saltwater crocodiles that have come too close to the city.

It's 5am, the sun's not up yet, and we're on a speedboat with two government rangers. Today's mission, checking some of the 24 crocodile traps in Darwin Harbour. This is a place where people come fishing, even swimming, and so the idea is to remove saltwater crocodiles that have come too close to the city.

There is one? Yeah. So the trap's about, what, five metres long, and they're hard mesh with two tubes along the side of them to keep them floating. And at one end, there's bait, which is feral pig. The other end, with a string attached, is a trap door. So when they go for the bait, that door closes. Here we go. It's not an easy job.

There is one? Yeah. So the trap's about, what, five metres long, and they're hard mesh with two tubes along the side of them to keep them floating. And at one end, there's bait, which is feral pig. The other end, with a string attached, is a trap door. So when they go for the bait, that door closes. Here we go. It's not an easy job.

They secure the croc with a noose around its jaws, leading it out of the trap and then winching it out of the water. They take the mouth tightly shut and the legs. Once on board, they lie there on the floor next to our feet. Whoa, that's a big tail. Goodness me. One of the crocodiles just like flipped its tail and they're pretty strong and my seat happens to be right next to their heads.

They secure the croc with a noose around its jaws, leading it out of the trap and then winching it out of the water. They take the mouth tightly shut and the legs. Once on board, they lie there on the floor next to our feet. Whoa, that's a big tail. Goodness me. One of the crocodiles just like flipped its tail and they're pretty strong and my seat happens to be right next to their heads.

These saltwater crocodiles, or salties as they're known here, will be culled because otherwise there's a high chance they'll return to the harbour. Kelly Ewan is one of the rangers working in the croc management team.

These saltwater crocodiles, or salties as they're known here, will be culled because otherwise there's a high chance they'll return to the harbour. Kelly Ewan is one of the rangers working in the croc management team.

This is all part of the Northern Territory's crocodile management plan for the more than 100,000 crocs that live in the wild here. And they've recently raised the number they're allowed to cull each year to control the population. It's a turnaround from the 1970s, which saw the population dwindle to just 3,000. Now, salties aren't even threatened anymore.

This is all part of the Northern Territory's crocodile management plan for the more than 100,000 crocs that live in the wild here. And they've recently raised the number they're allowed to cull each year to control the population. It's a turnaround from the 1970s, which saw the population dwindle to just 3,000. Now, salties aren't even threatened anymore.

Graham Webb is one of Australia's most renowned croc experts.

Graham Webb is one of Australia's most renowned croc experts.

The government also goes into schools with its education programme, Be Crock-Wise. It's been such a success that other countries are now looking to borrow it.

The government also goes into schools with its education programme, Be Crock-Wise. It's been such a success that other countries are now looking to borrow it.

Natasha Hoffman is a ranger running the Bee Crocwise program.

Natasha Hoffman is a ranger running the Bee Crocwise program.

It struck at 12.47 local time, so just around lunchtime at about 30 kilometres from the capital, Port Vila, and a depth of up to 57 kilometres. So as we heard just there, yeah, I think a lot of people were shocked by the intensity of the quake and the mean depth. a series of smaller aftershocks in the hours after the initial quake.

It struck at 12.47 local time, so just around lunchtime at about 30 kilometres from the capital, Port Vila, and a depth of up to 57 kilometres. So as we heard just there, yeah, I think a lot of people were shocked by the intensity of the quake and the mean depth. a series of smaller aftershocks in the hours after the initial quake.