Stef Barney

Rig Recycle now in Multiple States Across Australia

Stef Barney

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 recreational fishing kits for social fishing charities – giving them another life.

Read more “Rig Recycle now in Multiple States Across Australia”

Elijah at Bustard Bay Clean-up 2023
Stef Barney

Facing Island, Bustard Bay and Curtis Island Clean-ups

Stef Barney

Three successful island clean-up events have taken place in close succession, led by coordinators Ian and Mike, along with the support of passionate volunteers and local organisations. These clean-ups on Facing Island, Bustard Bay, and Curtis Island have resulted in the removal of significant amounts of debris, highlighting the collective commitment towards preserving our marine ecosystems.

Facing Island Clean-Up: The Facing Island Clean-up marked the first of the three events, where 22 enthusiastic volunteers, accompanied by coordinators Ian and Mike, traveled to Facing Island via Curtis Ferry Services who provided free transport. This team’s effort resulted in the collection of 48 bags of debris, totaling an impressive 278kg. The Port Curtis Coral Coast People, Gidarjil Development Corporation Trainee group, Gladstone Regional Council, and Gladstone Ports Corporation provided invaluable support by contributing vehicles and manpower.

Facing Island Clean-up 2023

Bustard Bay Clean-Up: The Bustard Bay Clean-up witnessed the participation of a dedicated team of 20 volunteers, including special guests Katie and Chappt from Amity Blue and young Tangaroa Blue ambassador Elijah and his mother. The team embarked on a mission to clean up an 8km stretch of beach between Eurimbula Creek and Middle Creek, facilitated by the iconic LARC. They successfully collected 20 bags of debris, totaling 197kg. Prior to their arrival, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and LARC staff had also collected approximately 100kg of large debris. Noteworthy discoveries included three Longline Trackers and a significant section of a net from a FAD, which will be repurposed as part of Project ReCon.

Bustard Bay Clean-up 2023

Curtis Island Clean-Up: The Curtis Island Clean-up involved a group of 34 volunteers who undertook a massive clean-up mission over the weekend collecting 45 bags of debris, weighing a total of 355kg. Dividing into two groups, one focusing on Turtle Street and the other on Joey Lee’s, the volunteers faced varying levels of debris. Mike’s group encountered a beach covered in debris, successfully filling 27 bags weighing 185kg. Furthermore, local volunteers Matt Klem and his family contributed an additional 15 bags, weighing 152kg. Notably, a significant number of plastic lids, predominantly the foreign brand AQUA from Malaysia, were discovered, highlighting the global nature of marine pollution. The success of this clean-up event was made possible by the support extended by Curtis Ferry Services, Gladstone Backpackers, and the three LNG Plants: Shell’s QGC business, Santos, and ConocoPhillips. Special appreciation is also extended

Curtis Island Clean-up 2023

Thank you to all who were involved in these annual clean-ups!

Stef Barney

AUSMAP / ReefClean 2022 Report

Stef Barney

As part of the ReefClean project, microplastic surveys have been conducted in coastal areas surrounding the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). These surveys aim to raise awareness about the environmental impacts of microplastics and contribute to mapping the extent of their accumulation in waterways and beaches.

To ensure the collection of reliable data, the AUSMAP sampling methodology was employed. This method involves taking multiple sediment samples along the shoreline during the most recent high tide. These samples are then sieved to identify microplastic particles ranging from 1 to 5 mm. The collected data is verified by the AUSMAP Scientific Officer, ensuring its scientific reliability.

Read more “AUSMAP / ReefClean 2022 Report”

Stef Barney

Funding Empowers Citizen Science: Monitoring Marine Debris Across Queensland

Stef Barney

We are excited to announce the publication of scientific paper that highlights the invaluable contributions of the citizen science community in monitoring marine debris across Queensland, Australia. The study sheds light on the major drivers of marine debris and provides a crucial baseline assessment of debris accumulation along the coast.

Coordinated by the Tangaroa Blue Foundation, the ReefClean monitoring network played a role in gathering high-resolution data, covering a stretch of 18 degrees of latitude, spanning approximately 1800 kilometres.

Read more “Funding Empowers Citizen Science: Monitoring Marine Debris Across Queensland”

Five Beaches Loop
Stef Barney

2022 ReefClean Report

Stef Barney

The 2022 ReefClean Report has been released, showcasing the fourth year of the five-year ReefClean project funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust. The initiative aims to remove and prevent marine debris along the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) through community, monitoring, annual GBR Clean-up, Source Reduction Plan (SRP), school, training and disaster management clean-ups.

In 2022, over 4,139 volunteers from 251 organisations spent 14,211 hours collecting 23.7 tonnes of debris across 1,987 hectares of the GBR. Remnant plastic bits and pieces and plastic lids and tops, pump spray and flow restrictors were the top two items collected for the fourth consecutive year in the GBR.

Read more “2022 ReefClean Report”