|
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". |
Many Cape York Peninsula (CYP) communities are growing in size, receiving increasing numbers of visitors, and dealing with increasing marine debris washing up on their beaches. A Northern Hub project investigated municipal waste and marine debris management issues in three communities. Tangaroa Blue along with Cape York AMDI partners were able to contribute data and information to assist in this research project.
See the Publications Tab at: http://www.nespnorthern.edu.au/projects/nesp/waste-and-marine-debris-in-remote-northern-australian-communities/
Final Report - http://www.nespnorthern.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Waste-marine-debris-final-report.pdf
Factsheet - http://www.nespnorthern.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Waste-marine-debris-wrap-up-factsheet.pdf
After 150 volunteers from industry, government, rangers and NGOs spent the morning removing rubbish from the Darwin Harbour, the Tangaroa Blue data team has crunched the numbers and confirmed one of the heavier years on record with indicators pointing to an increase of illegally dumped items.
‘Over 150 people were working across 10 land and 4 water-based sites, with 9 boats around Darwin Harbour,’ said Northern Territory Seafood Council, Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Katherine Winchester.
‘This year a total of 4.2 tonnes was collected most of which was made up of heavy items such as 27 car tyres, a flat screen tv, mattresses and an arm chair.’
From Monday 10th July until Friday 14th July, a small army of Tangaroa Blue volunteers ran an impressive clean-up mission set against the stunning backdrop of Back Beach, Mapoon in Cape York.
The team comprised 14 volunteers including some local regulars, others who travelled interstate from as far as Christmas Island and a team from the Clean4Shore program and Macmasters Beach Surf Club in central NSW. Tangaroa Blue worked in conjunction with the Traditional Owners of the land and were lent a great deal of help by the Mapoon Land & Sea Rangers. Working side by side the Indigenous Rangers was a particularly rewarding aspect of the operation for many of the volunteers.
In five warm and windy days, the joint effort clocked 6.7 kilometres of beach, amassing a staggering 2.2 tonnes of debris. The big ticket item was quite clearly plastic drink bottles. The 10 601 bottles retrieved accounted for nearly a quarter of the total items collected; the main culprit being the Indonesian water brand Aqua, which totalled 3875 bottles alone. Many of the volunteers have vowed never to purchase plastic drink bottles again.
Other notable statistics include the collection of 5607 pieces of polystyrene foam, 2823 thongs and 1436 cigarette lighters.
Tangaroa Blue would like to thank the Traditional Owners as well as the community of Mapoon for allowing them to continue their clean-up and data collection efforts in Cape York. Thanks also goes to the Australian Government's Improving Your Local Parks and Environment Grant, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Australian Border Force for their ongoing support.
Report by volunteer Tim Sillato.
With the support of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority through Reef Trust, Tangaroa Blue has been working behind the scenes to update the Australian Marine Debris Database, and will be bringing the new version online later this week. From Tuesday 20th June to Thursday 29th June you will not be able to access the AMDI Database as we bring the new version online.
We apologies for any inconvenience caused, and will have the new AMDI Database online as soon as possilble.
You will need to register as a new user when you first access the new version of the AMDI Database. Below are some of the changes and some suggestions on preparing to use the new version.
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!
|
|
© Tangaroa Blue | sitemap | web design by precedence
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 |
