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Marine Debris

18,000 pieces of plastic are estimated to float in every square kilometre of ocean.

633 species worldwide including 77 Australian species are impacted by marine debris.

Over 75% of what is removed from our beaches is made of plastic.

Tangaroa Blue Foundation is an Australian-wide not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the removal and prevention of marine debris, one of the major environmental issues worldwide. But if all we do is clean-up, that is all we will ever do.

To successfully solve the problem, the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) was created, an on-ground network of volunteers, communities and organisations that contribute data from rubbish collected during beach and river clean-up events to the AMDI Database, and then work on solutions to stop the flow of litter at the source. The AMDI helps communities look after their coastal environment by providing resources and support programs, and collaborates with industry and government to create change on a large scale.

In Maori and Polynesian mythology, Tangaroa is the god of the ocean. Tangaroa made laws to protect the ocean and its sea creatures "Tiaki mai i ahau, maku ano koe e tiaki"... If you look after me, then I will look after you..." When, after a week-long clean-up event, the whales and dolphins come close to our beach and slap their flippers, we sometimes wonder if it is Tangaroa saying "thank you".

2017 Tangaroa Blue Foundation AGM

Tangaroa Blue Logo Notice is given that Tangaroa Blue Foundation Ltd ACN 138 636 521 will hold our 2017 Annual General Meeting on October 16th at the Margaret River Community Resource Centre, 33 Tunbridge Street, Margaret River, WA 6285 from 7-9pm. All members and guests are invited.

Joining the meeting via Skype will be possible for those that aren't able to attend in person.

Please RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by October 14th.

Thank you!

It’s official!!

You can get money back for your drink container, but no more plastic bags

Queenslanders can look forward to cleaner parks, beaches and public areas as the state now has a container refund scheme and a ban on plastic shopping bags ready to start next year.

Environment Minister Steven Miles said the Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Bill 2017 that introduces Queensland’s container refund scheme and plastic shopping bag ban was passed by State Parliament today (5 September 2017).

Mr Miles said the Waste Reduction and Recycling Amendment Bill 2017 passed through Parliament with bipartisan support.

Another 1.7 tonnes off Cape York Beaches

2017 5BL1 A massive 1.7 tonnes of marine debris, equal to the weight of a small car, was picked up and sorted by 15 Tangaroa Blue volunteers and Apudthama Rangers recently during a Cape York beach clean-up event. 74 000 items of debris were collected by the team who travelled to the 5 Beaches Loop located at the tip of Cape York. The debris was removed and sorted over 5 days from just over 5 kilometres of beach. The total is a 30% increase from last year.

Operation Clean Sweep Australia

Preventing marine debris is all about stopping it at the source. We are proud to have launched Operation Clean Sweep in Australia and would like to share with you our latest video showcasing how one of the first companies to sign up to the program in Australia has implemented it into their operations. A huge thank you to Co-Ex Films, Streamline Media Australia, the Victorian Government's Litter Hotspot Program and the Western Australian Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program WA.