School children got a huge shock when they turned up to their usual swimming lesson to find the pool full of plastic waste. Pupils from a primary school, in Measham, were expecting a normal swimming lesson but got more than they bargained for.
The school's deputy head said that the school had organised the stunt to tie in with pupils' lessons on the environment and the dangers of plastic pollution. She said: "The reaction of the children was quite profound. "The first thing they said was - 'It's just like the sea'.
FULL STORY: http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/.../school-kids-turn-up...
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plastic

Sri Lanka is facing the worst environmental disaster in its history after a cargo ship carrying chemicals caught fire off its coast, spilling microplastics across the country’s pristine beaches and killing marine life. The ship was carrying 25 tonnes of nitric acid, sodium hydroxide and other dangerous chemicals as well as 28 CONTAINERS OF PLASTIC USED TO MAKE PLASTIC BAGS! It also had more than 300 tonnes of fuel in its tanks.

The fire on MV X-Press Pearl, a Singapore-registered ship, broke out on 20 May and has been burning ever since. The Sri Lankan navy and Indian coastguard have been trying to reduce the flames for more than 10 days. Local people have been told not to touch any of the debris as it could be highly toxic and fishing has been banned within a 50-mile radius of the scene.
Images credit to BBC News and ABC News
#breakingnews #chemicalspill #microplastics #srilanka #wildaware #beachcleanup #trashtag #plasticocean #trash #litter #beachcleanup #trashtag #northernbeachescleanupcrew

​Balloons are in the top three most harmful waste items to wildlife. Birds and turtles not only ingest balloons, they actively select them as food. This is because a burst balloon often resembles a jellyfish, the natural food sources of many marine species like turtles.
Ingesting balloons, and the clips and strings attached to them, can cause intestinal blockages and results in a slow painful death through starvation. Marine animals don’t have the gastrointestinal pH levels to breakdown a balloon and for turtles, it may also cause floating syndrome. Trapped gases in the gut can cause a turtle to become buoyant, unable to dive for food—making them vulnerable to boat strikes and leading to starvation and severe dehydration.
Wildlife, both terrestrial and marine, can also become entangled in balloon ribbons or strings, causing injury or death through drowning, suffocation, or an inability to feed and avoid predators.
Even if balloons are disposed of "safely" they go to landfill where it may take up to 1,000 years to decompose, leaching potentially toxic substances into the soil and water. Why are some organisations like this so stubborn in regards to using balloons as "advertising fun?
Even if these balloons are biodegradable, it's greenwash. Natural latex may be biodegradable, but after adding chemicals, plasticizers and artificial dyes, how natural could it be? It may degrade after several years, but it’s surely not “biodegradable.” Balloons are also the number 1 cause of death in sea birds such as Albatross and Mutton birds that have consumed plastic.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #balloons #balloonsblow #loveManly #litter #beachcleanup #Manlybeach

We haven't had one beach clean up that we organised throughout these years where we haven't found any abandoned fishing gear. Do you wanna join us for a beach clean up? See our event tab.
All plastic in the oceans is harmful to marine life, but one type of plastic pollution is especially deadly - Fishing gear.
Why is it more deadly?
Fishing gear is designed to catch and kill marine life, and it continues to do that even when it is abandoned or lost at sea.
One abandoned fishing net can cause years or even decades of death and destruction. Around 300 sea turtles were discovered dead in a single incident in 2018, entangled in a ghost fishing net in Mexican waters. We must put a stop to this destruction of life in our oceans.

#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plastic #plasticocean #beachcleanup #seaspiracy

​This picture is from earlier this week. The photographer Em saw three dusky whalers in one dive and all of them had fishing gear attached to them - hooks, swivels and lines.
This picture is taken at Cabbage Tree Bay which is an aquatic reserve that covers an area of approximately 20 hectares. The objectives of this reserve is to: conserve the biodiversity of fish and marine vegetation, protect fish habitat, facilitate educational activities and to facilitate scientific research. More than 160 species of fish and approximately 50 species of marine invertebrates have been recorded in the Reserve. This is a 'no take' Aquatic Reserve, which means you are not permitted to fish by any method, harm marine animals or plants, or collect marine organisms whether dead or alive (including empty shells as they provide homes for living organisms).
We've never had a clean up where we haven't found any fishing gear. Around 640,000 tonnes of fishing equipment are left in oceans annually. Discarded fishing equipment can remain in the oceans for up to 600 years.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #fishinggear #fishing #beachcleanup #cabbagetreebay #loveManly #sharks
Pic: Em @chasingsummer03

This was a devastating sight to find when "Cornwall Seal Group" was out surveying last week - another victim of recreational fishers. On the haulout, it was impossible to get to this poor hooked moulted pup! If you seeds around this area and you see this seal then please call BDMLR on 01825 765546 or https://bdmlr.org.uk/ or contact https://www.cornwallsealgroup.co.uk/
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #animalrights 

Balloons found at Dee Why beach a few weeks ago. Balloons do not go to heaven. They land in the ocean and choke sea turtles, kill dolphins and whales, and the ribbons entangle birds. Many times, they end up on a beach as litter. Even the ones marked "biodegradable" can hurt animals before they have a chance to break down. Animals far from the ocean, such as horses, have been hurt and killed by balloons (they eat them when they land in their hay or they get spooked and bolt). Some balloons have started fires when they got entangled in power lines.
Sky lanterns have set homes, power lines, trees, and buildings on fire. Sky lanterns can also entangle an animal even if it is marketed as "biodegradable." There are many safe alternatives to releasing litter into the air, such as planting a tree for your loved one and watching it bloom, or blowing bubbles into the air. Grief is a painful process. In our grief, we do not need to cause others grief. While there are many environmental problems facing our planet, this is a very simple one to solve.

#northernbeachescleanupcrew #balloons #balloonsblow #nature

Wherever you are in the world, please use a reusable mask as your first option but if you for whatever reason need to wear single-use masks, please CUT the strings before throwing them out.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #mask

Every year 1 billion disposable coffee cups end up in landfill sites across Australia and in NSW 300 million have the same fate, causing significant environmental impact.
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#northernbeachescleanupcrew #keepcup #coffee #litter #beachescouncil #beachcleanup

Is this your wrapper? Mars bar wrapper with the best before date 1994 found this week at Queenscliff beach.
The vast majority of debris in the ocean — about 75 percent of it — is made of plastic. It can consist of anything from plastic bottles to packaging materials, but whatever form it takes, it doesn't go away easily. While plastic may break down into smaller and smaller pieces, some as small as grains of sand, these pieces are never truly biodegradable. The plastic bits, some small enough that they're called microplastics, threaten marine life like fish, birds and turtles. Up to 95% of some populations of birds have plastic in their gut.
We can clean up beaches every day for the rest of our lives. But it's a little bit like trying to mop the floor up in your bathroom. If the bath is overflowing and both taps in the bath and the shower are all running at full speed, it's a waste of time trying to just clean up. You will need to clean up eventually but the first thing is to stem the flow. And that has to be the priority. Say no to single use plastic.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plastic #beachcleanup

Glitter is not only impossible to clean up, it also stays in the environment FOREVER! Choose biodegradable glitter made from cellulose instead, or make eco-confetti with a hole puncher and fallen leaves. We don't need plastic to sparkle!
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plastic

Of the estimated 52 billion masks manufactured globally in 2020, it's believed 1.56 billion will enter our oceans this year, resulting in an additional 4,680 to 6,240 metric tonnes of marine plastic pollution. "OceansAsia" says the report used a conservative loss rate of 3 percent, and the average weight of 3 to 4 grams for a single-use polypropylene surgical face mask, to arrive at the estimate. The 1.56 billion face masks that have entered our oceans in 2020 are there for the long run. They will remain in the ocean for 450 years or more, and they’ll break into smaller pieces.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plasticfree

Tired of seeing pictures like these? Stop buying balloons and tell your friends to stop buying them too. There are better ways to celebrate.
Balloons are in the top three most harmful waste items to wildlife. Birds and turtles not only ingest balloons, they actively select them as food. This is because a burst balloon often resembles a jellyfish, the natural food sources of many marine species like turtles.
Ingesting balloons, and the clips and strings attached to them, can cause intestinal blockages and results in a slow painful death through starvation. Marine animals don’t have the gastrointestinal pH levels to breakdown a balloon and for turtles, it may also cause floating syndrome. Trapped gases in the gut can cause a turtle to become buoyant, unable to dive for food—making them vulnerable to boat strikes and leading to starvation and severe dehydration. Balloons are the number 1 cause of death in sea birds such as Albatross and Mutton birds that have consumed plastic - google Lauren Roman doctoral thesis looking at the effects of plastics in marine birds in Australia and New Zealand to learn more.
Wildlife, both terrestrial and marine, can also become entangled in balloon ribbons or strings, causing injury or death through drowning, suffocation, or an inability to feed and avoid predators.
Even if balloons are disposed of "safely" they go to landfill where it may take up to 1,000 years to decompose, leaching potentially toxic substances into the soil and water. Why are some businesses still using balloons as "advertising fun"?
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#northernbeachescleanupcrew #balloons #balloonsblow #beachcleanup #beachescouncil #litter #beachcleanup #trashtag #plasticocean #trash #literati #rubbish #turtlekiller

Discarded fishing gear kills hundreds of thousands of whales, seals, turtles and birds each year. Around 640,000 tonnes of fishing equipment are left in oceans annually. This picture was taken at our local no-take aquatic reserve "Cabbage Tree Bay" in Manly.
We often find fishing lines, sinkers and hooks in this area. People are not permitted to fish by any method, harm marine animals or plants, or collect marine organisms whether dead or alive in the area. The reserve covers about 20ha, including the entire bay, rocky shores and beaches from the southern end of Manly Beach to the northern end of Shelly Beach Headland.
If you see someone doing the wrong thing please report it by using this link or call 1800 043 536.
Remember the info needed is
1. the time and date you saw the activity
the type of activity you saw (for example, abalone theft, lobster theft, taking protected fish)
2. a description of the activity
the make, model or registration details of any vehicles or vessels involved in the activity (if possible)
3. the Fisheries Compliance Zone
the location of activity (description as accurate as possible)
4. your contact details (optional).
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/.../report-illegal-fishing...
Discarded fishing equipment can remain in oceans for up to 600 years.
Pic: Louisa Xu
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#northernbeachescleanupcrew #loveManly #cabbagetreebay #beachcleanup #fishingsucks #Manly

A University of Queensland study in 2012 found that 78 per cent of the plastic ingested by deceased turtles it studied was from helium balloons. Their study confirmed turtles were wrongly identifying the remnants of balloons as a food source. Turtles are unable to throw up the balloons and as gas is released from other foods they digest, they begin to float and suffer a long and painful death. Please stop using balloons - there are many other more environmentally friendly ways we can show off a celebration.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #turtles #balloons #balloonsblow

He died because someone left their plastic frisbee on the beach.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plastic

For every 85 grams (3 ounces) of mussels you eat, you’re ingesting an estimated 70 particles of microplastic, a new study by the University of Hull and Brunel University London finds.
Researchers took samples of wild mussels from eight coastal locations around the UK and eight supermarkets. 100% of them contained microplastics and some contained other debris like cotton and rayon. Mussels eat by filtering seawater through their bodies, ingesting small particles of plastic along with their food.
Analysis shows around half of the debris found in the mussels was microplastics such as polyester and polythene and 37% was other debris including textiles such as cotton and rayon. Seafood is only one way humans ingest microplastics, as they’ve been found in other food sources and drinking water, and can even be inhaled, University of Hull environmental scientist Jeanette Rotchell said. Single-use plastic is responsible for nearly 90% of ocean pollution.
#plasticpollution #mussels #northernbeachescleanupcrew

We have to do better... Lil Buddy, a post Hatchiing green sea turtle washed back from Hurricane Eta and rescued in the Florida Keys, passed away overnight at the Turtle Hospital. Necropsy today revealed over 150 pieces of plastic/trash in her stomach and intestines ! We see similar things happen locally. Please share and help us raise awareness!
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plastic

It's illegal to fish in Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve. The area is home to a diverse range of habitats and marine life and more than 160 species of fish and 50 species of marine invertebrates have been recorded in the reserve.
Report illegal fishing via the Fishers Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 or online at: https://bit.ly/3dMPFCX
Details of other closed areas in Sydney Harbour and the Northern Beaches can be found in the local fishing guide: https://bit.ly/35lrlo3
You can save a life by reporting illegal fishing. This is Lulu, an endangered Green Sea Turtle rescued at Cabbage Tree Bay a few weeks ago. She had swallowed a fishing hook, line and metal sinker. The amazing team at Seabird Rescue Central Coast has her in care. If you would like to help Lulu recover, please donate to:
Australian Seabird Rescue Central Coast
BSB: 032-629
ACC: 203-039
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #beachcleanup

If we continue to dump plastic as we have done to date, the quantity floating on the surface could quadruple by the year 2050, and up to 231.6 million tonnes will have polluted the ocean as microplastics.
The picture is better if we stop releasing any plastic into the ocean from 2020. In that scenario, the volume of floating plastic would drop to 59% of its current levels. But the quantity of microplastics in the ocean would still more than double by 2050 as material already trapped in the environment degrades.
The problem will be with us for decades, the researchers write:
“Mitigating microplastic pollution in the global ocean requires two major components: (1) drastically reducing emissions of plastic pollution in the coming years and (2) actively engaging in removal operations of plastic waste from the marine environment to reduce further generation of secondary microplastics.
“Without proper handling and management of accumulated plastic waste, the legacy of the last 70 years of throw-away society will live on through the generation of ever smaller synthetic polymer fragments in soils, freshwater ecosystems and eventually the ocean.”
By: Mark Bruer
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #beachcleanup
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Many conservationists are raising alarm about growing ocean pollution caused by the increased waste created out of the coronavirus pandemic.
With a lifespan of 450 years, these masks and gloves are an ecological timebomb given their lasting environmental consequences for our planet.
A recent study in the Environment, Science & Technology journal estimates that 129 billion face masks and 65 billion gloves are being used each month.
Regarding COVID waste, of course we must favor reusable masks and gloves.
Shared from Angry Earth
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #plasticfree

A dead baby Blind Shark found with a rubber band around its gills. Elastic bands should be cut before thrown out. Who would have thought that an elastic band could kill a shark?
Millions of animals die every year because of our plastic pollution and waste. Cleaning up a beach can save the lives of thousands of animals. Not using single use plastic can save the lives of thousands of animals. Educating your friends about single use plastic and what changes they can make to their everyday lives to reduce plastic can save the lives of millions of animals. The change starts with you.
#northernbeachescleanupcrew #sharks #plastickills #animals #plastic #beachcleanup