NEWS that plastic ingestion will affect 99 per cent of the world’s seabird population in the next 35 years has reinforced the importance of the work a local force of volunteers.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Eurobodalla Marine Debris Working Group is tackling marine debris, especially plastic items, that threaten the marine environment.
The group includes divers, fishers, surfers, school groups, conservation groups and scientists from Eurobodalla and the ACT who collect debris from the shire’s beaches on their own, and as part of regular organised clean-ups.
Each item collected is logged on the Tangaroa Blue marine debris database, which is used by government and the CSIRO for research.
Eurobodalla Shire Council’s environmental education officer Bernadette Davis said the CSIRO’s startling estimate that 90 per cent of all seabirds alive today have eaten plastic of some kind underlined the value of volunteers and organisations around the world who pick up marine debris.
“It sometimes feels like it is pointless as just one person to be picking up plastics from our beaches. It is important to remember we are not alone in this fight,” she said.
“There are an incredible amount of people of all ages assisting in combating marine debris.”
Ms Davis said the shire’s south-facing beaches received a lot of windblown small plastic fragments, which break down into smaller pieces when exposed to the sun and salt.
“This is what sea birds mistake as food,” Ms Davis said.
“We also find a lot of small litter items, like straws, cigarette butts, plastic lids and plastic bags, that come directly from our own streets and towns via stormwater.”
It is a message Ms Davis is particularly keen to drive home
“Litter equals marine debris,” she said.
“If you walk on the beach you can help by just picking up the plastics at your local beach, but the biggest and the best way to help is to prevent the plastics from entering the ocean in the first place.
“If you see litter on your street or at a local car park, pick it up and put it in the bin.
“It really is that simple.”
Related coverage: