Flashback to Cape York Weekly, 30 September: Seisia resident Eunice Sagaukaz does her bit to ensure the community’s beach is taken care of for generations to come. Photo: Supplied.
Figures for this year’s Great Barrier Reef Clean-up are in – as the Cape and Torres Strait joined 2646 Queenslanders across 153 events.
The volunteer support demonstrated unprecedented community commitment to protecting the reef. Together, they removed more than 2.2 tonnes of marine debris, preventing it from washing onto the Great Barrier Reef ahead of the wet season.
Queenslanders descended on beaches, estuaries and waterways, collecting and recording 47,255 marine debris items.
Their efforts directly address a pressing threat identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2024, which lists marine debris as a major risk to reef health and marine life.
Delivered through Tangaroa Blue Foundation’s ReefClean program in collaboration with Clean Up Australia, the Great Barrier Reef Clean-up saw hundreds of community heroes stepping up to lead activities in their areas.
Talei Elu invited Seisia residents to do their part for the 2025 Great Barrier Reef Clean-up in October.
By the end of one day, the Seisia group had collected enough debris to fill a ute tray.
“Water bottles, squid lures, a lot of marine rope and fishing lines – those were the usual culprits,” Ms Elu told the Cape York Weekly at the time.
“There was also a lot of smaller, disintegrated microplastics.”
The ReefClean program is funded by the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.
Citizen science continues to be central to the event’s impact. More than 70 of this year’s clean-ups submitted data to the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) Database, providing insights into the items collected and helping inform long-term solutions to the ocean plastic crisis.
Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt, acknowledged the value of community-led action.
“Reducing the amount of rubbish entering the reef is one of the most valuable, tangible actions we can take to protect it, and everyone can play their part.”
Heidi Tait, CEO of Tangaroa Blue Foundation, said the results reflected the power of community action.
“When thousands of Queenslanders unite for the eeef, the impact is incredible,” she said.
“Every item removed and recorded gives us both immediate protection for marine life and the data we need to find long-term solutions to stop debris at its source.”
Jenny Geddes, CEO of Clean Up Australia, said her organisation was delighted with the results and volunteer response to the initiative.
“It reminds us we can all play an important part in protecting our precious reef and that practical action matters.”
Visit Tangaroa Blue Foundation.
