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18,000 pieces of plastic are estimated to float in every square kilometre of ocean. 276 species worldwide including 77 Australian species are impacted by marine debris. |
Tangaroa Blue Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation focused on the health of our marine environment, and coordinates the Australian Marine Debris Initiative, an on-ground network of volunteers, communities, organisations and agencies around the country monitoring the impacts of marine debris along their stretch of coastline. In Maori and Polynesian mythology, Tangaroa is one of the great gods, the god of the ocean. He is the son of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, Sky and Earth. Tangaroa is the father of many sea creatures and his breaths are the tides. 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..." The organisation was named Tangaroa Blue Foundation to highlight the importance of protecting our oceans and creating programs and resources to help communities look after their local coastal environment. |
As part of the Hawkesbury River Foreshore Porgram, school students have been helping to remove massive amounts of marine debris from the river, but today the Cogra Bay locals joined the effort to remove large bukl items from the environment.
Wth the help of local oyster grower Rob Moxham and the Gosford City Council, volunteers started early to beat the falling tide.
Three fiberglass speedboats were cut up with a chain saw and stacked on the jetty ready for loading. A large 30 foot ply cruiser, was BBQed, the week prior, with all metal pieces removed from the rubble and placed on the jetty.
The NQ Dry Tropics annual Celebrate the Sea Festival was held on March 2nd celebrating both Clean Up Australia Day and National Seaweek.
Hundreds of Townsville residents joined the clean up event at Pallarenda beach and then the party at Robertson Park. .
Over the course of the morning, Tangaroa Blue volunteers were also able to sort and count the rubbish collected during the clean up, and over 3,241 items were removed from the beach. Plastic debris was the source of 63% of the debris collect, with 2,049 plastic items recorded.
On Saturday March 1, 2014, 26 volunteers from UQ's UniDive, Wild Mob, Clean Oceans Australia, Stradbroke Island VMR, Sibelco, Wildcare Straddie and Reef Check Australia joined together to collect and sort 30kg of rubbish from the foreshore and underwater areas around Amity Point, North Stradbroke Island.
"Together we were able to remove 30 kilograms of rubbish from the area both above and below the waterline. This included hundreds of pieces of rubbish, an estimated 7 kilometres of fishing line and more than a thousand cigarette butts. If anyone misplaced a plastic pirate eye patch, we found it!", said clean-up coordinator Blair Jedras.
Announcing after a year of planning SupExplore Sydney, Adventure Concept Paddle # 4. The circumnavigation of the Sydney basin. In a world first adventure Stuart Murray plans to Stand Up Paddle 350km and portage 50km in a two week period commencing March 2nd. He is inviting people to support him in this ground breaking paddle where he will be supporting Tangaroa Blue Foundation and the Australian Marine Debris Initiative!!
Sponsor Stuart by donating to Tangaroa Blue Foundation - all donations over $2 are tax deductible!
https://www.facebook.com/Supexplore
UPDATE 11/03/2014 - Day 10 - 30km. Ease out the blisters and aching legs. Kool sharing and meeting the great kids from Chipping Norton public school. Great to have the company of Shane from Sandy point for entire paddle and Sherifa for a few km. Enjoyed training with the Army marine. Tonight I get to share the SupExplore Sydney and Tangaroa Blue story with the Botany Bay SUP Club.
The Australian Marine Debris Initiative is a way that everyone can become involved in both the removal of marine debris and finding solutions to stop the flow of rubbish into our oceans.
Tangaroa Blue Foundation is an Australian registered charity with tax-deductable status.
A donation to the Tangaroa Blue Foundation Fund goes directly to help continue the fight against marine debris around Australia.
Check out what has been found by volunteers on beaches around Australia!
Since 2004 Tangaroa Blue volunteers and partners have been hard at work cleaning our beaches!
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Postal Address:PO Box 757 PO Box 1176 |