On Friday April 20th, students from Agnes Water State School joined WetlandCare Australia, Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG), Tangaroa Blue and community volunteers for a beach clean up and mangrove awareness event.
The area between the Marina in 1770 and the point at Round Hill Creek was targeted for a clean up and during the morning 105kg was of marine debris was removed!
Round Hill Creek is a declared fish habitat area and an important nursery for many marine species including mud crab, prawns, whiting, mullet and bream. Substantial local recreational and commercial fishing industry is sustained by the mangrove and seagrass habitats in this area. These habitats are also important in protecting the shoreline from the erosive impact of waves, capturing sediments, pollutants and nutrients for better water quality, buffering against storm and cyclone damage and as a store for atmospheric carbon.
Marine debris, plastics and other litter have been identified as a major threat to the environmental health of these habitats and their values, and is also of concern aesthetically to the large number of tourists that visit this region.
Students also assisted by collecting data during their clean up which will be submitted into the Australian Marine Debris Database which is used to identify what is impacting their local coastline and looks at ways of preventing rubbish from entering our waterways.
Thanks also to the local Surf Lifesaving Club for the awesome BBQ!
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