MEDIA RELEASE 24 February 2012 Cradle Coast Beachwatch to boost Clean Up Australia Day Devonport schools, Lions Clubs and Rotary Clubs are pulling on their gloves and tidying up their local beaches in a new Beachwatch program set to carry the spirit of Clean Up Australia Day right throughout the year. Under the program, community groups have each adopted a Devonport beach and will collect litter, man-made marine debris and generally keep an eye on their patch of coastline in a volunteering effort similar to the widespread ‘adopt a highway’ scheme. The Lions Club of Devonport Mersey, Lions Club of Devonport, Devonport North Rotary Club, Devonport School of Special Education, Don College and East Devonport Primary School have all registered as Beachwatch group volunteers covering the coast from Coles Beach in Devonport to Tea Tree Lane in East Devonport. The groups will start their litter and marine debris collection efforts to coincide with Clean Up Australia Day and have registered events between 26 February and the national-collection date of 4 March. A tally of the litter collected will also be sent to Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society who monitors waste levels and tackles the source of the rubbish that ends up on Australian beaches. Beachwatch is an initiative of Cradle Coast NRM and is being trialled with the support of the Devonport City Council. If successful, the program is expected to be introduced to other beaches within the Cradle Coast region by the end of the year. Cradle Coast NRM Beachwatch Facilitator, Dionna Newton, was impressed by the enthusiasm with which community groups took up the Beachwatch idea. “We weren’t sure what response we’d get when we sent out the Beachwatch information, but Cradle Coast locals have proved that they’re really passionate about their beaches and are true ambassadors for their local environment,” Ms Newton said. “All of the Devonport beaches were adopted within a month and the members are keen to start reducing the threats posed by rubbish and marine debris.” “The danger for marine life is that plastics and fishing line do not biodegrade and can be mistaken for food or entangle the creatures. Beachwatch volunteers will help remove these threats and share the message that littering is not only unsightly but can be deadly,” Ms Newton said. Anyone wishing to help out the Beachwatch volunteers on Clean Up Australia Day can join with members of the Lions Club of Devonport at Tarleton Street in East Devonport between 10am and 12pm on Sunday 4 March. End… Media Contacts: Dionna Newton – Facilitator Cradle Coast NRM Ph: 0437 986 858
Amanda Wilson – Communications Manager Cradle Coast Authority Ph: 6431 6285
Additional information: Worldwide sources of marine debris: 64% Shoreline and recreational activities 25% Smoking related activities 8% Ocean waterway activities 2% Dumping activities 1% Medical/personal hygiene Source: Ocean Conservancy/International Coastal Cleanup 2009
Top ten marine debris items worldwide: Source: Ocean Conservancy/International Coastal Cleanup 2009
RANK
DEBRIS ITEM
NUMBER OF DEBRIS ITEMS 2,189,252
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL DEBRIS ITEMS 21%
1,126,774
11%
1
Cigarettes/cigarette filters
2
Bags (plastic)
3
Food wrappers/containers
943,233
9%
4
Caps, lids
912,246
9%
5
Beverage bottles (plastic)
883,737
9%
6
Cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons
512,517
5%
7
Beverage bottles (glass)
459,531
4%
8
Beverage cans
457,631
4%
9
Straws, stirrers
412,940
4%
10
Bags (paper)
331,476
3%
8,229,337
80%
10,239,538
100%
TOP TEN TOTAL DEBRIS ITEMS TOTAL DEBRIS ITEMS WORLDWIDE
A range of marine debris and coastal education resources are available for schools from the Cradle Coast NRM website: http://www.cradlecoastnrm.com/useful_docs.html The Lions Club of Devonport Mersey is a Beachwatch volunteer group for Caroline Street to Tea Tree Lane and would welcome new Club members by calling Brian Howden on 0437 256 991. Cradle Coast NRM works with community, industry, schools, private enterprise and government to manage and improve our natural resources to ensure a healthy future for our region. The Beachwatch project is supported by Cradle Coast NRM and the Devonport City Council through funding from the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country. Cradle Coast NRM is an independent committee hosted by the Cradle Coast Authority.