The annual Great Barrier Reef Clean-up is officially underway and communities across Queensland are rallying to protect one of the world's most iconic natural wonders.
Recently launched in Townsville, the month-long clean-up runs throughout October, encouraging schools, local groups, councils and volunteers to roll up their sleeves and remove harmful debris and reduce the risk of entering the Reef.
Marine debris is one of the biggest threats for the Reef. Reducing its impact is one of the most valuable, tangible things we can do to protect it. Plastics and other waste, carried by ocean currents, can entangle turtles, smother corals and damage fragile ecosystems. The 2024 Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Outlook Report lists marine debris as a "high-risk threat" to the health and resilience of the Reef.
"With organisations like the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Tangaroa Blue Foundation, and Clean Up Australia Ltd working together to reduce marine plastics, we've collectively removed nearly 150 tonnes of marine debris from the Great Barrier Reef over the past few years - a fantastic community effort," said Reef Authority CEO Josh Thomas.
"We've seen an incredible effort to date - local projects are making a real difference in reducing the rubbish entering our creeks, rivers and ultimately the marine park."
"For Australians to tackle marine debris head-on, we need to use the best available science and technology and look at ways to better deploy the circular economy in society. The more we can reuse, reduce and recycle waste, the greater our chances of eliminating it from our natural, pristine environments."
The clean-up is also a vital source of science. Important marine debris data is also collected during the event. This data goes into the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) Database. The AMDI Database helps us identify the amounts and types of marine debris that are impacting our beaches.
- Local efforts show the power of collaboration:
- In Bundaberg, more than 27 tonnes of debris were removed in a single year through the Waterways program with schools, volunteers and First Nations groups.
- In Cairns, the Clean Creeks project cleared 7 tonnes of rubbish and removed 10 hectares of invasive weeds in partnership with Indigenous Rangers.
- Last October, Queensland communities collected more than 97,000 debris items during the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up - a testament to what's possible when everyone pitches in.
The Great Barrier Reef Clean-up is part of the Reef Clean Program . It is delivered in collaboration with Clean Up Australia .
The Reef Clean Program is run by Tangaroa Blue Foundation with $3.5 million in funding received over four years from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water's Reef Trust.
Be part of the solution
This October, you can help protect the ocean and marine life by volunteering at a clean-up near you.
Together, we can reduce the tide of marine debris and create a healthier future for the Reef.
