AMDI Network Archives - Page 4 of 8 - Tangaroa Blue Foundation

Over 3 Tonnes Removed from Mapoon

Mapoon is situated on the western side of the Gulf of Carpentaria, on the lands and seas of the Tjungundji People, approximately 900km north of Cairns. Mapoon Aboriginal Community is situated on the Southern shores of Port Musgrave which is where the mighty Wenlock River and Ducie Rivers meet and drain into the Indian Ocean. This area is full of diverse wildlife and is a popular nesting site for Flatback, Olive Ridley, and Hawksbill marine turtles and many shorebirds. Unfortunately,

5 August 2023

Proudly Introducing the ‘Tackle Back’ Product in Partnership with Shimano

We recently unveiled our latest innovation, the Rig Recycle ‘Tackle Back’ product, in partnership with Shimano at the 2023 AFTA Tackle Show on the Gold Coast. The ‘Tackle Back’ is designed to empower recreational fishers in preserving their favourite fishing spots by responsibly disposing of fishing-related waste. Whether you’re an avid angler or a weekend warrior, this product will provide you with the means to keep our waterways clean and thriving.

4 August 2023

How Citizen science projects can support UN Sustainable Development Goals

We are excited to see the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) Database being used in this paper to explore how citizen science projects measuring beach plastic debris can support the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. The UN established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework for sustainable development, including SDG 14, which aims to reduce marine pollution, specifically plastic debris. However, national data on plastic debris has been limited, despite citizen science projects collecting relevant information for SDG

28 July 2023

A Record-Breaking Cleanup in Wuthathi

Wuthathi Ngaachi (Country) and Karakara (Sea Country) is located in the area surrounding Shelburne Bay on the North Eastern coast of Cape York, about 800km north of Cairns. It is a place full of incredible cultural significance and biodiversity, and the landscape absolutely takes your breath away. However, unfortunately the beaches are heavily impacted by marine debris from locations far and wide.

24 July 2023

White spill: Life cycle assessment approach to managing marine EPS litter from flood-released pontoons

The South-east Queensland rains and Flooding Event of February–March 2022 was caused by prolonged, severe rains which caused fatalities, destruction of houses, businesses, and transportation systems and infrastructure, and led to the environmental catastrophe known as the “White Spill” event. Extreme volumes of marine debris flowed into open water across the Eastern Seaboard of Australia as flood waters began to drain from the inundated landmass. The force of the floodwaters dislodged and damaged infrastructure including marine pontoons from river systems

21 July 2023

Microplastic Study Reveals Insights and Calls for Continued Monitoring

The five-year ReefClean Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP)(2019-2023) has collected 126 samples from 44 sites, providing valuable insights into microplastic pollution in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The recently added March 2023 samples mark the conclusion of this study, highlighting both the seasonal and varying nature of microplastic loads and the low overall levels of microplastics compared to densely populated areas. However, the project underscores the need for continued monitoring to analyse the effects of climatic variances and address the

17 July 2023

Alternatives to Balloons: A Real Reason to Celebrate!

Alternatives to Balloons – A Real Reason to Celebrate Article updated in February 2025 Releasing balloons may seem like a harmless and fun way to celebrate, but as Isaac Newton once said, what goes up must come down! This is no different for balloons that are released into the air, and unfortunately they pose a key threat to the Great Barrier Reef and our oceans as a whole. Most balloon releases occur in suburban or rural areas. This is because

11 July 2023

Exploring the Coral Sea Marine Park: A Voyage to Preserve Island Health and Biodiversity

Project Coordinator Ian recently joined Parks Australia staff, volunteers, and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) field rangers on an exciting 14-day voyage. They embarked on a journey to explore 12 stunning cays and islets located in the central and far eastern regions of the Coral Sea Marine Park (CSMP). This marked the fourth major voyage organized by Parks Australia in support of the CSMP Island Health Project, which was initiated back in 2018. Previous expeditions successfully assessed the health

26 June 2023

Record Breaking Cape York Helicopter Clean-up

Over the past week a team of 25 people including volunteers, Elders and Custodians were flown by helicopter to a remote beach on Wuthathi Country where they removed a staggering 10.8 tonnes of marine debris. The unique clean-up, which targeted almost three kilometres of coastline along Wuthathi Ngaachi (Country) and Karakara (Sea Country), is one of the hundreds of clean-ups marine debris organisation Tangaroa Blue Foundation runs each year.

7 June 2023

Rig Recycle now in Multiple States Across Australia

The initial Rig Recycle trial was supported at retail stores and local councils along the Great Barrier Reef as part of the ReefClean program and provided detailed data on the types of plastic and volumes that could be collected by the sector. Rig Recycle’s first goal is to repair and reuse items – things like handline reels, hard plastic lures, hooks, sinkers, swivels are all checked to see if they can be repaired, and if so, they are included in

31 May 2023

Category: AMDI Network