Clean-up for the whole family at Back Beach
The cleanup crew
The Department of Fisheries and the Department of Environment and Conservation are joining forces with the local community for the Great Northern Clean-up, to be held on Karratha’s Back Beach on Sunday, September 11.
This community event ties in with the Keep Australia Beautiful Great Northern clean-up program and the Tangaroa Blue 2011 West Australian Beach Clean-up.
Part of the campaign will involve identifying and counting the amount of debris found on Karratha’s Back Beach.
The information collected by volunteers during the clean-up will give a greater understanding of problems areas, which can then be targeted in future clean-up initiatives.
DEC Clean Marine spokesperson Libby Hoskin said plastics were the largest marine debris problem by far.
“Plastics make up to 80 per cent of all rubbish in the oceans and can kill and injure marine creatures through getting caught in it or even eating it,” she said.
“By cleaning up Karratha’s Back Beach area we can help reduce debris in the Nickol Bay marine environment and help make it a nicer place for all our local marine animals.”
In the week leading up to the Great Northern Clean-up the Department of Fisheries will also be running a school education program promoting sustainable fishing practices, but also highlighting the issues around marine debris.
Students will be participating in their own clean-up, where they will analyse the type and amount of debris found in and around their very own school.
If you would like to be involved in the Great Northern Clean-up, arrive at Karratha’s Back Beach at 8:30am on Sunday, September 11.
The campaign will conclude around 11:30am where a free BBQ for participants will follow.
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