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    • About Us
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  • AMDI
    • About AMDI
    • AMDI Database
    • AMDI Monitoring Methodology
    • AMDI Insights
  • Projects
    • Clean-Ups
    • ReefClean
    • Rig Recycle
    • Operation Clean Sweep
    • Project ReCon
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    • Source Reduction Plans
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    • Great Barrier Reef Clean-up 2025
    • Register for the 2025 WA Beach Clean-up
    • Events Calendar
    • Volunteer
    • Data Collection
    • School Collaboration
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  • Resources
    • Resources & Fact Sheets
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Reefclean®

Removing and preventing marine debris in the Great Barrier Reef region.

reefClean.landscape.logo.CMYK

ReefClean is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and is delivered by Tangaroa Blue Foundation in partnership with a variety of organizations. Launched in early 2019, the project aims to remove and prevent marine debris in the Great Barrier Reef region.

A program of targeted and integrated marine debris activities, ReefClean has reduced the volume of debris generated in or entering the Great Barrier Reef that may impact threatened and migratory species and ecosystems. It has also increased awareness in Reef catchment communities about marine debris and actions they can undertake to prevent litter from entering Reef waterways.

 

This has occurred through:

  • Community clean-up events
  • Site monitoring
  • The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up event annually in October
  • Community Source Reduction Plan Workshops
  • School and community engagement activities
  • Data analysis
  • Disaster management clean-ups
  • Microplastics surveys
VIEW UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Tangaroa Blue Foundation acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the Great Barrier Reef and their strong and continuing connections to Country.

Protect the Reef this October
Sign up for the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up!
Find out more
Join the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up
Sign up to Protect the Reef this October!
Find out more
Join the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up
Sign up to Protect the Reef this October!
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Join the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up
Sign up to Protect the Reef this October!
Click Here

2024 - Today

In 2024, the ReefClean program received funding from the Federal Government’s Reef Trust for a further three year program. This program builds on and complements the initial program as well as existing programs and activities operating across the Great Barrier Reef and its catchment.

 

The 2024 – 2027 program aims to:

 

  • reduce the volume of debris generated in or entering the Great Barrier Reef, which may impact listed threatened and migratory species, such as dugongs and turtles, and the Reef’s ecosystems.
  • Increase awareness in Reef catchment communities about the issue of marine debris and actions they can take.
  • Embrace the circular economy principles to divert marine debris into ReefCycle and Rig Recycle programs.
  • Provide an integrated framework for addressing marine debris that connects all relevant stakeholders and provides scalable resources, case studies, and solutions.

2019 - 2023

The initial five year program funded by the Federal Government’s Reef Trust, started in 2019. The project aimed to remove and prevent marine debris in the Great Barrier Reef region through to 2023.

 

To do this, Tangaroa Blue Foundation partnered with several organisations to achieve success: Reef Check Australia, Capricornia Catchments, Eco Barge Clean Seas, OceanWatch Australia, South Cape York Catchments and AUSMAP.

 

The initial ReefClean program was delivered by Tangaroa Blue Foundation and more than 400 stakeholders from 2019-2023.

ReefClean® Partners

Check out ReefClean on Instagram

It's not too late to #ProtectTheReef this October It's not too late to #ProtectTheReef this October 🐠✨

Join us for the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up! Find a clean-up near you on our interactive map and lend a hand 👉 Link in Bio.

Don't forget to tag us in your #GBRCU snaps 📸

#GBRCU25 #beachcleanup #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark @cleanupaustralia
66 kg of debris 😱 We had an incredible day on 66 kg of debris 😱

We had an incredible day on Snapper Island, partnering with @brupeg_expeditions for the first time! 
Despite having a smaller crew this year, we were fueled by the excitement of new faces and great teamwork - special thanks to volunteer Rodger for joining the cause 🤝

"We managed to get 66.09 kg of Marine Debris from an island that, upon arrival, looked nearly spotless. Just goes to show how much you can find when you're willing and able to look." - Coordinator AJ. 

#AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
Shoutout to the @cassowarycoastregionalcouncil and Shoutout to the @cassowarycoastregionalcouncil and the 20 amazing volunteers who joined the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up at Kennedy Bay (Djiru Country). 

Together, they removed over 240 kg of debris, including a full chest freezer ❄️ Special thanks to Chris from @girringunaboriginalcorp and Atti from Tangaroa Blue for your invaluable support 🙌

Want to host your own clean-up this October?
Register using the link in our bio and help protect our Reef. 

#GBRCU25 #ProtectTheReef #beachcleanup #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #GreatBarrierReef @reeftrustausgov @dcceew @tangaroablue @GreatBarrierReefMarinePark @cleanupaustralia
Absolutely shelltastic 🐢🌟 Coordinator Ian j Absolutely shelltastic 🐢🌟 
Coordinator Ian joined the #GBRCU25 Curtis Island clean-up over the long weekend and rescued 2 turtles in the process!

Assisted by young volunteer Isaac, Ian conducted a health assessment on a juvenile green sea turtle before releasing it back into the ocean.The next day, regular volunteer Dan encountered a mature male turtle stranded on its back - this one was also able to be tagged and released unharmed. 

Kudos to our amazing crew for protecting our wildlife 👏

#ProtectTheReef #beachcleanup #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #GreatBarrierReef  @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark @cleanupaustralia
What an AMAZING long weekend! A whopping 500 kg o What an AMAZING long weekend! 
A whopping 500 kg of debris was cleared in just two days on Curtis Island, with our amazing volunteers and coordinators tackling the beaches of Stone Hut (33 bags), Joey Lees (31 bags), and Turtle Street (13 bags) 👏 🚮

Most common finds? Hard plastics, bottle lids, and an abundance of thongs.

A huge thank you to our incredible supporters Shell QGC, @santos_ltd GLNG, @conocophillips, @curtisferryservices, @gladstoneregionalcouncil, and Capricorn Lodge - your backing makes this possible.

#GBRCU25 #ProtectTheReef #beachcleanup #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #GreatBarrierReef  @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark @cleanupaustralia
Be part of the wave of action! 🌊The 2025 Great Be part of the wave of action! 🌊The 2025 Great Barrier Reef Clean-up is happening all month, with community clean-ups across Queensland.

📆 Find your local event 👉 LINK IN BIO.

#GBRCU25 #ProtectTheReef #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @cleanupaustralia
Today on #WorldHabitatDay, we want to spotlight Lo Today on #WorldHabitatDay, we want to spotlight Loggerhead turtles! 🐢 They face significant threats from marine debris, including fishing gear entanglement and plastic ingestion (particularly during their vulnerable post-hatchling stage).

Shoutout to our #reefclean volunteers who protect these magnificent turtles and their habitat every time they clean-up the beach 🙌 

Image taken by Project Coordinator, Ian. 
(Source: @gbrmarinepark Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2024)
Turtle protection crew 🙌 🐢 Project Coordin Turtle protection crew 🙌 🐢 

Project Coordinator Ian, with help from volunteer Chris, has just completed his second #GBRCU25 clean-up on behalf of Team Turtle CQ. 
They collected two bags of marine debris weighing 13.2 kg from Wild Cattle Island - great job!

It was awesome to see some local initiative - a bag at the beach access for everyone to place any debris they find. 
This beach is a vital nesting ground for our endangered Flatback turtles, so every bit counts in the lead up to nesting season. 

#ProtectTheReef #beachcleanup #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #GreatBarrierReef @reeftrustausgov @dcceew @tangaroablue @GreatBarrierReefMarinePark @cleanupaustralia
The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up starts today! ✨ The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up starts today! ✨

Project Coordinator Ian and Shell QGC Maintenance teams got in early with their first #GBRCU25 event on Tannum Sands Main Beach. An early start to coincide with their work roster, and they didn’t let us down - cleaning-up 23.8kg of marine debris! They even sorted it for the #AMDI Database 🎉

The 262 items included 58 containers for change! ♻️ Thank you to Shell QGC for providing your employees with the opportunity to care for our environment as part of #GBRCU.

#ProtectTheReef #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @cleanupaustralia
We recently hit the shores of Walker Bay, QLD, for We recently hit the shores of Walker Bay, QLD, for some AUSMAP surveys, uncovering 229 pieces of microplastic! 
No crocodiles in sight, thankfully 🐊

But that's not all - we picked up a significant haul of discarded spools and fishing line from the @rigrecycle station at @the.lureshop Tackleworld Cooktown before heading to Lions Park for a rubber crumb survey. This revealed some concerning, large fragments breaking away from the playground surface.

#RigRecycle #AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
Are you coming to the Facing Island Beach Clean-up Are you coming to the Facing Island Beach Clean-up 2025? 🙋‍♀️

Join the crew and get involved with a big clean-up of East Point, Castle Rock, and Possum Point! We’ll cover barge transfers, equipment, and snacks - you bring the clean-up energy ⚡📫 Email monique@tangaroablue.org to reserve your spot.

#GBRCU25 #AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
Five Beaches Loop is our northernmost clean-up sit Five Beaches Loop is our northernmost clean-up site in Australia. Taking 2 days driving there and back, we make sure our #Tangaroablue volunteers have some fun along the way🌊🍦 And the team had just enough time to clean-up a whopping 1.7 tonnes of marine debris!

Why not join us on our next volunteer trip 🌴

@Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
Today we are celebrating the inaugural monitoring Today we are celebrating the inaugural monitoring of Waiben (Thursday Island) 📢 🙌 

Developing a quarterly monitoring program will allow us to create an accurate dataset for the Torres Strait and track trends in the region. Our team conducted macro- and microplastic surveys, finding both local waste and international items, including a candy wrapper from Spain.

A huge thank you to our amazing volunteers. We can't wait to see you all again in December for the next round 📋

#AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
Join us on Saturday, 4th, and Sunday, 5th October Join us on Saturday, 4th, and Sunday, 5th October for the Curtis Island Clean-up ⛴️🌊

Don’t miss out on this trip! Join us for the day or camp overnight. Camping, barge transfers, and meals are all covered by Tangaroa Blue Foundation and our brilliant partners. 📫Email monique@tangaroablue.org to reserve your spot.

#GBRCU25 #AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
The future of our oceans is in good hands 🤩 🤝 

Project Coordinator Matt recently gave two marine debris presentations as part of the Green STEM program at Belgian Gardens State School. Led by STEM Coordinator Brett Murphy, these eager Year 5 and 6 students from various schools to learn about the marine environment, and returned the favour with a tour of the new and improved aquarium 🐠

Matt will be back to support two #GBRCU25 clean-ups in Rowes Bay this October. It's always a pleasure to engage with such passionate and curious students!

#AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #tangaroabluefoundation #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
On National Threatened Species Day, we are reminde On National Threatened Species Day, we are reminded that in 1936, Australia's Tasmanian tiger (Thylacine) slipped into extinction. Coordinator Mon and the team joined local environmental champions from Gladstone, as they highlighted how everyone can play a part in protecting our unique wildlife 🐨 🌿 

#AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #tangaroabluefoundation #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
Wave goodbye to cigarette butt litter 👋🚭 La Wave goodbye to cigarette butt litter 👋🚭

Last week, the team in Port Douglas installed our Ditch the Flick stickers at the @crystalbrooksuperyachtmarina. These eye-catching stickers not only mark the location of our cigarette butt bins, but also spread awareness to help reduce cigarette butt waste 💪

#AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #tangaroabluefoundation #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
Fantastic news from Four Mile Beach 🙌 📋 Coo Fantastic news from Four Mile Beach 🙌 📋

Coordinators Gabby and Lucy, along with volunteer extraordinaires Susan and Tim, set out to complete our ReefClean quarterly monitoring at Four Mile Beach South in Port Douglas. 
We're thrilled to report that NO microplastic samples were found in the AUSMAP quadrats, and that there was very low debris!
Together, they collected 1.9kg of waste, with cigarette butts being the top item (39). 

Great job, team!

#AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #tangaroabluefoundation #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
The team is on tracker-watch 👀 🛰️ Project The team is on tracker-watch 👀 🛰️

Project Coordinator Ian met up with former Tangaroa Blue team member Hannah whilst at the Burketown Bore! Lots of reports of GPS trackers in residents' backyards for the team to follow up on for #ProjectReCon 👣

#AMDI #marinedebris #Tangaroablue #tangaroabluefoundation #reefclean #ReefTrust #Reef2050 #GreatBarrierReef @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW @TangaroaBlue @gbrmarinepark
Great to receive an update from our @TangaroaBlue Great to receive an update from our @TangaroaBlue clean-up crew currently up at Five Beaches Loop, with this awesome photo attached 📸

#AMDI #marinedebris @Reeftrustausgov @DCCEEW
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ReefClean News

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Cape Kimberley Beach Clean-up Quarterly Monitoring Site

28th of July, 2019 - Cape Kimberley Beach near the Daintree River...
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ReefClean Unearths Toxic Hazards

Tangaroa Blue Foundation, through their ReefClean project, has unearthed several hazards in...
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Success at the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up

This October (2019), ReefClean launched the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up, where communities...
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