Clean Up our Oceans

Plastics and marine life do not mix. Our local wildlife urgently needs your help to keep their homes safe, please read on how you can help today.

Australia produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, equating to 100kg per person, and unfortunately only a mere 13% is recovered.

Concerningly, around 130,000 tonnes of the plastic we consume leaks into the marine environment each year.

You can help prevent plastic pollution leaking into our oceans by joining a local Clean Up event this Sunday, March 2^nd. Click here to find an event near you.

Marine pollution consists mainly of plastic material that will take hundreds of years to degrade. As plastics deteriorate and break down in smaller particles, marine creatures such as fish and seabirds ingest them and even feed them to their young.

It is predicted that 99% of seabirds worldwide have ingested plastic.

Plastics also cause damage including suffocation, entanglement, infections and internal injuries. Mammals like the Australian Fur Seal are at high risk of becoming entangled in plastics, and getting injuries from fishing lines and hooks. It is estimated that over 300 fur seals get entangled at each year at Seal Rocks.

Microplastics are also harmful to humans, as these minute particles have become part of the food chain and have been found everywhere: in drinking water, seafood, and in the soil where we grow vegetables.

Wildlife Coast Cruises is working hard to help eliminate or reduce plastic waste.

Our waste reduction initiatives include:

• KeepCups available on board
• Plastic free beverages
• Can Collect
• Recycling and green waste on board
• Reducing single use plastic packaging
• Phased out straws
• Switching to selling plastic-free bait bags

Our yearly Spring Clean Up events have removed nearly 150kg of waste from our beaches; most common items were cigarette butts, bottles, cans, and takeaway food packaging.

You can help protect our precious wildlife, simply by remembering to bring your water bottle, takeaway coffee cup, and by refusing single use plastics.

What’s your pledge? Inspire your family and friends to make a change by sharing your pledge and tagging @CleanUpAustralia #CleanUpAustralia