News Release February 23rd, 2009
Community dives in to clean up Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park
Clean up Australia Day will take to the ocean this year in a bid to rid some areas in the Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park of abandoned traps, discarded fishing gear and general household rubbish.
Marine Park officer Britt Anderson said three dive clubs – two from Nelson Bay and one from Newcastle - will be on the job looking for rubbish in and around D’Albora Marina in Nelson Bay, while at the northern end of the park, the Great Lakes Underwater Group, or GLUG, will be cleaning up rubbish and discarded fishing gear from around Seal Rocks.
“A host of divers will descend in the D’Albora Marina at Nelson Bay, along the marina break wall and at a nearby dive site called ‘the pipeline’ to clean up rubbish in the marine park. Local Port Stephens Fisheries officers will also join forces with the Marine Parks Authority and will spend the day pulling out abandoned traps and fishing gear from the water.
“The passionate GLUG volunteers often assist with marine research in the marine park and with underwater educational activities, on Sunday though they’ll be headed to the Seal Rocks Sanctuary Zone to clean up rubbish from Big Seal Rock. Big Seal Rock is a well known home to Grey Nurse Sharks over summer.”
Ms Anderson said Australians were among the highest producers of waste, per person, in the world.
“An estimated seven billion cigarette butts end up in Australian waterways, streets and parklands each year, as well 80 million plastic bags are dumped in Australia each year - creating a serious threat to our precious marine life.
“This is the first time the Nelson Bay Marina and Seal Rocks have been registered as official Clean Up Australia Day sites and it’s a great example of how the local community can help look after our beautiful marine park.”
Photo opportunity: Divers will be at the D’Albora Marina wall at Nelson Bay at 11am, Sunday March 1st.