With marine debris washing up on local beaches Eurobodalla Council is reminding residents to log their finds on Tangaroa Blue’s national database.
Council’s sustainability coordinator Mark Shorter said items from a shipping container spill in May were continuing to wash ashore.
“The APL England lost 50 shipping containers into the sea while on route to Melbourne and we’re seeing more and more takeaway containers, meat trays, face masks, and small bits of plastic wash up locally,” he said.
“The Tangaroa Blue Foundation has been tracking the spill debris since the containers were lost. It’s vital to remove these items but so important to record what is found.
“All you need to do is enter the details into the Australian Marine Debris database, an easy to use phone app. This helps with tracking where waste is coming from, with the aim to try and stop it from the source where we can.”
Council has also received reports of fire and flood debris again washing onto local beaches, with requests for clean-ups. Council does not remove natural matter from local beaches, instead letting nature take its course over time, but will continue to monitor the beaches.
For more information on the Australian Marine Debris initiative and to download the app, visit https://www.esc.nsw.gov.au/living-in/natural-environment/get-help/marine-debris-working-group.
Above: More debris is washing up on Eurobodalla beaches from a shipping container spill in May. Pictured is Eurobodalla Council’s sustainability coordinator Mark Shorter with some of his beach finds.
