2018-07-10 P&E Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 8 - Draft Noosa River Plan

River and beach clean ups
The scourge of plastics in waterways and the impact on marine life and seabirds resonates with many
individuals and organisations in the community as a key environmental issue. An amazing cross-section
of dedicated volunteers of all ages, act individually or together for coordinated river and beach clean-ups
throughout the year.
Council supports these volunteers and clean-ups through provision of rubbish bags and disposal, and
administers temporary event permits for activities conducted on public land. Key coordinating organisations
include:
   •	Noosa Integrated Catchment Association (River Rangers).
   •   Surfrider Foundation.
   •	Clean Up Australia Day (CUAD).
   •	Noosa Community Biosphere Association.
   •   Coolum & District Coastcare.




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   •   Sea Shepherd.




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   •	Corporate organisations (Unitywater, Sofitel Noosa,
      Peppers Noosa).




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Marine Debris – why does it matter?                  A
Marine ecosystems worldwide are affected by human-made litter, much of which is plastic. Wildlife
is impacted by marine debris directly through ingestion and entanglement and indirectly through
chemical affects.
About half of seabird species across the globe have eaten plastic–this will likely increase to 95%
of all seabird species by 2050.
Birds eat everything from balloons to glow sticks, industrial plastic pellets, hard bits of plastic,
foam, metal hooks and fishing line.
Approximately one third of marine turtles have likely ingested debris–most items eaten are plastic
and many turtles are now positively buoyant.
The regions of highest risk to global marine turtle populations are off the east coast of Australia,
South Africa and USA; the East Indian Ocean, and Southeast Asia.
Turtles, seabirds, whales, dolphins, dugongs, fish, crabs and numerous other species are killed and
maimed through marine debris entanglement.