Microplastic Study Reveals Insights and Calls for Continued Monitoring

The five-year ReefClean Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP)(2019-2023) has collected 126 samples from 44 sites, providing valuable insights into microplastic pollution in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). The recently added March 2023 samples mark the conclusion of this study, highlighting both the seasonal and varying nature of microplastic loads and the low overall levels of microplastics compared to densely populated areas. However, the project underscores the need for continued monitoring to analyse the effects of climatic variances and address the sources of microplastics.

Read more “Microplastic Study Reveals Insights and Calls for Continued Monitoring”

Alternatives to Balloons: A Real Reason to Celebrate!

Releasing balloons may seem like a harmless and fun way to celebrate, but as Isaac Newton once said, what goes up must come down! This is no different for balloons that are released into the air, and unfortunately they pose a key threat to the Great Barrier Reef and our oceans as a whole. 

Most balloon releases occur in suburban or rural areas. This is because the assumption that being away from coastal areas will reduce the effect of balloons on the marine environment. The Queensland government states that balloons can travel up to 800 km in distance from their original release point; this causes them to become a major environmental hazard. 

Thankfully, there are a number of alternatives to balloons that can be used for all kinds of celebrations. Check out our Alternatives to Balloons Fact Sheet for some great ideas.

Read more “Alternatives to Balloons: A Real Reason to Celebrate!”

ReefClean: The Race Against Waste

How will IRONMAN Group tackle waste this year?

Tangaroa Blue Foundation and the IRONMAN Group will be collaborating under the ReefClean initiative to tackle waste generated at this year’s Cairns Airport IRONMAN.

The project is a ReefClean initiative that was developed to reduce the amount of event specific waste sent to landfill and help overcome issues such as pollution from litter on the race course.

Read more “ReefClean: The Race Against Waste”

Record Breaking Cape York Helicopter Clean-up

Over the past week a team of 25 people including volunteers, Elders and Custodians were flown by helicopter to a remote beach on Wuthathi Country where they removed a staggering 10.8 tonnes of marine debris.

The unique clean-up, which targeted almost three kilometres of coastline along Wuthathi Ngaachi (Country) and Karakara (Sea Country), is one of the hundreds of clean-ups marine debris organisation Tangaroa Blue Foundation runs each year.

Read more “Record Breaking Cape York Helicopter Clean-up”

Rig Recycle now in Multiple States Across Australia

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”

Page 2 of 8