HELPING HAND FOR MARINE LIFE
Positive Change for Marine Life is a group of determined Coast students keen to draw attention to how litter is harming the oceans
SIX million tonnes of marine debris enter our oceans every year but a group of Gold Coast students are doing their bit to confront this.
The group, called Positive Change for Marine Life, are determined to conserve ocean
ecosystems by reducing our reliance on single-use products.
They also want to increase community awareness of the problem around the Gold Coast.
Turtles, seabirds, whales, dolphins, seals, fish and other marine life mistake litter for food, which often proves fatal.
At the heart of Positive Change for Marine Life’s Honour the Ocean campaign are beach surveys.
Through locating marine debris hot spots, undertaking scientific beach surveys and identifying patterns of marine debris, the group uses findings to implement campaigns and projects to mitigate the impact of debris on the marine environment.
Thanks to the support and passion of the local community, it now has ongoing beach surveys at Miami headland every fortnight.
The Gold Coast team is also involved in a number of other initiatives, including education workshops, single-use plastic free and community outreach programs.
Since April 2017, the dedicated Gold Coast team has collected 5495 individual pieces of litter, including 2952 pieces of plastic and 1566 cigarette butts at Miami Beach.
If you want to join and make a difference for marine life on the Gold Coast, the next beach survey is at Don McSween Park, Miami, on Saturday, August 26, at 8.30am.