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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. |
Townsville has been busy this year organising beach clean ups! Thanks to the devolved grant 'Engaging and Strengthening Communities' we received at the beginning of the year from NQ Dry Tropics, we have been able to partner with Conservation Volunteers Australia and NQ Dry Tropics to do two beach clean ups in Townsville, as well as organise a beach clean-up in Ayr at Alva Beach!
Well so are we! But if all we do is clean-up, that's all we'll ever do! So what is the solution???
Join in a community Source Reduction Plan workshop that actually works on finding practical solutions that stop the flow of rubbish into our oceans in the first place – and we need your local knowledge to do it!
Half day workshops will be held in Albany, Margaret River, Bunbury, Rockingham, Geraldton, Karratha and Port Hedland throughout March and April with the goal of creating a local Source Reduction Plan in each region to address what is washing up on your beach.
Update from the www.boomerangalliance.org.au website 21st Feb 2015.
The Baird government's decision to proceed with a container deposits scheme (CDS) is ground breaking for cleaning up the state's environment, funding charities and paving the way for other states to join, the Boomerang Alliance of 30 groups said today.
After documenting the intense marine debris issue at Fagan's Bay a week earlier, 'The Glen' crew headed back with reinforcements from Response Training to continue the effort.
The clean-up crew was joined by NBN television, which documented the event, highlighting the intense volume of litter that collects in the bay. On this particular day, that included a double bed mattress, a car battery, six deck chairs, five car tyres, a microwave oven, and over 2,200 plastic bottles.
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.
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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Phone:0410 166 684 Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Postal Address:PO Box 757 PO Box 1176 |