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18,000 pieces of plastic are estimated to float in every square kilometre of ocean. 276 species worldwide including 77 Australian species are impacted by marine debris. |
Tangaroa Blue Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation focused on the health of our marine environment, and coordinates the Australian Marine Debris Initiative, an on-ground network of volunteers, communities, organisations and agencies around the country monitoring the impacts of marine debris along their stretch of coastline. In Maori and Polynesian mythology, Tangaroa is one of the great gods, the god of the ocean. He is the son of Ranginui and Papatuanuku, Sky and Earth. Tangaroa is the father of many sea creatures and his breaths are the tides. 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..." The organisation was named Tangaroa Blue Foundation to highlight the importance of protecting our oceans and creating programs and resources to help communities look after their local coastal environment. |
Report By Samantha Hobbs South Cape York Catchments
A big thank you for all those who contributed to the great Cooktown to Weary Bay Beach Clean Up on Sunday. Over 150 volunteers turned up to clean 7 beaches from Cooktown to Weary Bay. The enthusiastic crew removed approximately 2 large skip bins of rubbish as part of the annual community beach clean up.
17 volunteers at Walker Bay removed ½ a large skip bin of rubbish, about the same amount as last year; everyone managed to finish the clean up just before the rain set in.
Since the 3rd March, the OCCI team on the NSW Central Coast have been sharing their knowledge and passion for the coast with participants of their 'Project Aware on the Coast' course. As a celebration at the end of the course, an awards night was held last week celebrating the efforts of the 23 participants who have completed the course and contributed to health of the local coastal environment.
This is a report from Linda Roberts, one of the course coordinators.
The awards evening was awesome. Many of our participants made short reports on the work they had done and more than one had us in tears at the misery the pollution they are finding causes them. One girl described her anguish when she reflected back on the fact that her beach trophies were sea shells whilst her son is now collecting rubbish!
Shelly Beach in Ballina received its first cleanup ever today!! Distance Education Students from Southern Cross School travelled from local and distance places to experience a three-day beachside camp. With a few sunrays coming through the clouds and a break in the rain – first off the rank was the beach cleanup!! Students and teachers loved the event with the most common item found being tiny hard bits of plastic.
Most of the teachers being surfers and visiting the beach on a daily basis were amazed at how they had never tuned into how much of this ‘tiny’ rubbish is actually on the beach. Some interesting items found were a tyre, some weird looking old wooden school desks and plastic resin pellets! Southern Cross School now wants to adopt Shelly Beach and do regular cleanup activities as a result of today’s beach cleanup workshop being a success.
The 10th Anniversary of the Great Wheelbarrow Race was held over the weekend of May 17 - 19 in the Tablelands of Far North Queensland.
This year the Flotsam & Jetsam team nominated to raise money for Tangaroa Blue as part of their race and they earned $595 for their favourite charity!!
The 140km race attracts more than 450 competitors annually, and the costumes are as much a part of the race as the winner! Helping protect our oceans - the Flotsam & Jetsam team consisted of jellyfish, star fish and lots of fish including Nemo!
You can still support the Tangaroa Blue Great Whellbarrow Race Team, just click here to donate!
Thank you to the awesome Flotsam & Jetsam team members and to everyone that sponsored the team to help the Tangaroa Blue fundraising effort!
The Australian Marine Debris Initiative is a way that everyone can become involved in both the removal of marine debris and finding solutions to stop the flow of rubbish into our oceans.
Tangaroa Blue Foundation is an Australian registered charity with tax-deductable status.
A donation to the Tangaroa Blue Foundation Fund goes directly to help continue the fight against marine debris around Australia.
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CONTACT INFO:
p: 0410 166 684
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