Eurobodalla beaches won a Highly Commended for the Environmental Education Award in the Clean Beaches Awards held at Bondi Golf and Diggers Club on Friday night.

Eurobodalla Shire Council was recognised for its efforts in environmental education through the Marine Debris Action in the Eurobodalla project, as was the work of the Marine Debris Working Group, which is drawn from several community groups.

Group coordinator Bernadette Davis said dive clubs, surfers, fishers, oyster farmers, surf schools and school students were all involved.

“We knew that there are so many ocean users in our area, and we wanted to get as many agencies, community groups and businesses involved, because there is one thing we all agree on, that plastic rubbish is the biggest threat to our marine environment,” she said.

No one member of the Marine Debris Working Group was there to accept the award on Friday, but that did not make it any less special. 

“None of us were able to go up there to accept it, but it is a big thrill for us,” Ms Davis said.

Clean-up activities recognised as part of the award included community awareness days, “intense marine debris clean-ups” at Pedro Point, Cookies Beach, Shark Bay and Barlings Beach, car park clean-ups and school clean-up and education days.

Ms Davis said  32 fishing tackle recovery bins were now in place across the Eurobodalla, two articles were posted on Tangaroa Blue webpage, Take 3 for the Sea signs were installed at Narooma Plaza, marine debris was displayed in Moruya library for the summer holidays, and the 2015 Eurobodalla Estuaries calendar was launched, featuring anti-litter slogans and artwork by Eurobodalla students.

Cigarette butts are the most common item of litter collected, which are sent to be recycled rather than going to landfill.