- Never-before-seen footage captured as 6.5 tonnes of pollution, almost all plastic, removed from just 8 km of remote coastline in Northern Australia
- Sea turtles found killed by ghost nets, likely from foreign fishing vessels
- Over 30 environmental and First Nations groups sign open statement for Australia to finalise a strong and binding Global Plastics Treaty
- The Albanese Government must show bold leadership on the world stage to finalise an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty at international negotiations next month.
A collective of 31 environment and First Nations groups today call on the Australian Government to use all diplomatic means to finalise a strong and binding Global Plastics Treaty as new data and imagery shows the scourge of plastic on our remote northern coastlines.
An annual clean up effort by Dhimurru Rangers and Sea Shepherd Australia removed 6.5 tonnes of pollution from Northeast Arnhem Land coastline in May this year. The newly published data shows nearly 96% of the pollution is plastic, with an additional 3% being ropes that can contain plastic.
Dhimurru Leadership Team (Yolngu Coordinators): "For over two decades, Dhimurru Rangers have been removing ghost nets and marine debris from Yolŋu Sea Country. The ocean is our law, our food, our stories, and our future. When plastic floods our coastline, it damages more than the environment - it damages who we are.
"If the Australian Government is serious about protecting oceans, it must continue walking with us - and listen to our calls to end plastic pollution.
"Don't let the tide of plastic rise. Finalise a strong plastics treaty now."
Wanga Mununggurritj, Miyalk Coordinator with the Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation said: "It's really hard work and impacting us Yolngu people seeing animals wrapped up in ghost nets. We see all the rubbish on the beaches and along the coast.
"Everything ranging from fishing nets, bottles, toothbrushes, rubber thongs, lighters, vapes, shampoo bottles, food packaging and bits of plastic fragments.
"Really hurting us and is frustrating. We've seen turtles wrapped up in nets, but they are also eating plastic. It's impacting all the marine animals."
Sea Shepherd Remote Marine Debris Campaigner Grahame Lloyd said: "Over two weeks of clean up efforts across 8 kilometres of coastline in Arnhem Land, we removed an estimated 274,288 pieces of pollution weighing 6.5 tonnes. That's nearly 1 kilogram per metre of coastline. Almost all of it is plastic. About 54% of the pieces are hard plastics, 15% bottle tops and lids, 5% polystyrene, and 4% water bottles.
"We also pulled out ghost fishing nets, several containing dead adult and hatchling sea turtles that had become entangled and died from starvation, drowning, or exposure.
"These ghost nets and other plastic pollution are coming from overseas, illegal fishing vessels, and here at home. It won't stop inundating Australia's remote northern coasts until we have a strong and binding Global Plastics Treaty that cuts plastic production at the source."
AMCS Plastics Campaign Manager Cip Hamilton said: "It's shocking to see this horrific plastic pollution inundating remote Australian beaches.
"It's yet another stark reminder that we are at a tipping point. Without global action, plastic production is projected to triple by 2060, which would send plastic pollution spiralling out of control.
"Our oceans are inundated with plastic fragments that are maiming turtles, strangling corals and starving seabirds. The world is watching. Nature is suffocating. The time for compromise is over. Plastic pollution is choking our oceans, killing marine life, and threatening ecosystems from coast to coast.
"We welcome the Albanese Government's renewed commitment to support a strong Global Plastics Treaty, but now is the time to act. Australia must use all diplomatic means to finalise a strong, legally binding plastics treaty at international negotiations next month."
Images of plastic pollution on Victoria's southern coast are available via Hightail.
