Great Barrier Reef Clean-up participants in 2024 clear Chili Beach of marine debris. Photo: Supplied.
The Great Barrier Reef is a wonder of the world that must be preserved for the next generation, and it is time for Cape York and Torres Strait Islander residents to step up once again.
Registrations for the 2025 Great Barrier Reef Clean-up by Tangaroa Blue Foundation’s ReefClean Program and Clean Up Australia opened on 9 July.
Running throughout October, the event invites schools, businesses, community groups and individuals across the reef catchment to host clean-ups at their local beach, creek, river or reef.
Tangaroa Blue chief executive officer Heidi Tait said Cape York and Torres Strait communities had participated in many Great Barrier Reef Clean-ups and other organised events in past years.
“We’re very thankful for the communities that get on board, and we do our big clean-up events every year in Cape York at select beaches, but we know that there’s lots of other beaches that need a clean-up,” she said.
“[This] is an opportunity for those people that may not join one of our more formal events to create their own, and we hope that we cover more of the coastline.
“We know that Cape York gets hammered by marine debris, predominantly from overseas, and we always need a clean-up being done … it also provides an opportunity to collect really valuable data to be able to showcase these issues.”
Participants receive free clean-up kits and support to organise their event, making it easy to take part in protecting Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef.
Last year, more than 1,800 volunteers removed over 97,000 items of marine debris across 147 clean-up sites.
“We are able to take registrations from the Torres Strait all the way down to the Bundaberg, Burnett River Region of the Burnett Mary,” Ms Tait said.
“More of these remote locations, where it’s hard to get to, where you traditionally don’t get communities, they’re the ones that we’d love to see registered along Cape York.”
Register for a clean-up and receive your free kit at www.tangaroablue.org/gbrcu.
