In this section:
Ocean Litter Surveys
As a part of SARDI Aquatic Sciences Education and Extension Program, staff coordinate and participate in two ocean litter surveys, one at Anxious Bay near Elliston on the State's Far West Coast, the other at Guichen Bay near Robe in the state's South East. Beach litter surveys in remote locations represent one of the most efficient and effective ways to monitor ocean litter. If done regularly and scientifically, this information can provide a valuable insight into the status of our oceans.
The disposal of plastics into the sea, including plastic fishing gear such as nets, rope, monofilament line and packaging bands used on bait boxes, is totally prohibited under Australian law (Protection of the Sea (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 1983) which implements the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). MARPOL’s Annex V prohibits the disposal of all plastics into the sea. In addition, Australia’s Commonwealth-managed fisheries are required to be consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development, particularly the need to minimise the impact of fishing on the marine environment.
The sites at Robe and Anxious Bay were chosen because they face in a westerly direction and are fairly remote when compared to other similar beaches. Prevailing winds and currents make these beaches an ideal place for monitoring litter in our southern oceans. The beaches act as a natural trap for ocean debris arriving with the westerly winds and carried by the Antarctic circumpolar currents, which brings debris from a large area of the Indian and South Atlantic oceans between South America and Australia.
This unique program of ocean litter surveys utilises the scientific expertise of South Australia’s marine scientists and the community involvement of schools and other member of the community - to raise community awareness of ship-based marine pollution and importantly, report on the status of ocean litter in Australia’s vast southern ocean.
Beach litter surveys, even to the fully initiated, are labour-intensive activities. As such, local support and involvement of community groups are essential for the ongoing success of the Robe and Anxious Bay ocean litter monitoring. At Robe, the involvement of the commercial fishermen has provided invaluable assistance in identifying types of marine fishing debris. The involvement of staff and residents from the Cavan Training Centre (a juvenile detention centre) in the Anxious Bay survey has broadened the community's appreciation of the project outcomes.
One of the major benefits of the program has been the increased community and educational awareness of ocean litter, particularly by communities in the south east and western parts of South Australia. The interaction between scientists and regional schools has fostered an increased awareness of South Australia’s marine environment and importantly, marine pollution as a global issue. To this end, our ocean current systems are highly efficient in transporting litter across our vast oceans. To many of our young surveyors - it is only when they pick up litter from far away places (for eg like South Africa) do they suddenly realise how inter-connected our planet really is - and importantly, that it is a problem that all of us have to address.
Anxious Bay Litter Survey
Anxious Bay beach, on South Australia’s remote west coast, is an isolated, westerly-facing beach, 26 km long. Far away from any centres of human population, Anxious Bay is ideal for monitoring ocean or ship-based litter. Initiated by Professor Nigel Wace of the Australian National University in 1991, the annual survey is now coordinated by the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) and is undertaken every year with the assistance of staff and children from the Streaky Bay Area School, Elliston Primary School and other community groups.
The survey involves the systematic clearance of all litter from the 26 km beach, foredunes and far dunes - and importantly, the sorting of all litter into litter types and also, the potential origin of the litter where possible.
While beach litter on Anxious Bay originates predominantly from fishing and shipping activities conducted within the Great Australian Bight - exotic and long-distance litter are some of the more interesting and fascinating aspects of the survey. Interesting items to-date include: yes, the 'message in a bottle' from Cape Town (South Africa); and assorted litter from Taiwanese, Greek, Japanese and South African vessels. Past surveys have also found a stranded tropical turtle; an Australian sealion, a tagged Albatross; and a tagged Southern Bluefin Tuna. Tagging animals gives researchers vital knowledge of the number and movements or migrations of our some of most long-distance travellers, such as seabirds and marine mammals. All of these items provide wonderful research and education topics for school children involved in the program.
Over the past 4 years, the beach litter survey program has also included juvenile offenders from the Cavan Training Centre. Their involvement in the survey and also, their interaction with school children from Streaky Bay and Elliston is proving that "hands-on" surveys, like the Anxious Bay ocean litter survey, are not only excellent tools to promote environmental awareness, but can also, assist with important juvenile justice programs.
The survey is supported each year by a community grant under the Commonwealth’s `CoastCare Program’.
For more information on what has been found on Anxious Bay beach, see the Ocean Based Litter survey results 2000
Robe Litter Survey
What do community groups, commercial fishermen and researchers all have in common? They are all concerned about the level of marine litter or debris in our oceans, the possible consequences for maine wildfile, and the need to monitor the current status and encourage the responsible disposal of ship-based litter.
Following the success of surveys on the far west coast of South Australia (ie Anxious Bay), Robe (Guichen Bay) has become the second major monitoring site for the monitoring of ship-based ocean litter in South Australia. While Anxious Bay provides valuable information on the status of marine debris in the eastern Great Australian Bight, it is hoped that Guichen Bay will provide important information on the waters of the south-east of the state.
The survey involves the systematic clearance of all litter from the 12 km of beach, foredunes and far dunes - and importantly, the sourcing of all litter into litter types and also, the origin of the litter where possible.
For more information on what has been found on Long Beach, see Ocean Based Litter survey results 2000
