Posted by 
Dozens of climate change protesters have been removed from the water and arrested over a blockade at the Port of Newcastle
The activists, including a 97-year-old grandfather and a coal miner, had permission for a 30-hour protest at the world's largest coal port but when they refused to leave at 4pm on Sunday, police moved in.
Police alleged "a number of protesters purposely entered the harbour channel after this time despite appropriate warnings and directions by police" and said they arrested more than 80 people, freeing up the channel by 5.30pm.
READ MORE: Who are the hostages released so far during Israel-Hamas deal?
Protest organiser Rising Tide said after initially continuing to kayak in formation in the channel, the protesters complied with officers and got on police boats.
Rising Tide organiser Alexa Stuart called on the Albanese government to block new coal projects and tax coal export profits at 75 per cent to help fund the move away from fossil fuels.
The 20-year-old's grandfather, Reverend Alan Stuart, 97, was by her side for the protest.
"I just think of the young people growing up that I knew," he said.
"What sort of world are they going to be in? It's going to be a much less, what should I say, attractive, than I, than we know.
"People are going to be, they're going to find it difficult to cope in many, many, many situations and I think the final result in all of this is death."
Coal miner Grant Howard said he wanted the transition to renewables was already happening and he wanted miners to be part of the conversation, according to Rising Tide.
Police said it would take "some time" to issue charges given how many people were arrested.
