Big turnout for harbour clean-up – Northern Territory Seafood Council
19 July 2016
Big turnout for harbour clean-up
The seventh Darwin Harbour Clean-Up attracted its biggest number of participants to date who were out today collecting rubbish around Darwin Harbour.
‘Over 200 people were working across nine land and six water-based sites, with 19 boats around Darwin Harbour,’ said NT Seafood Council, Project Officer, Ms Lyn Lambeth.
‘This year a total of 2.2 tonnes of rubbish was collected with the most common items being fishing line, cigarette butts and broken glass.
‘Some of the odder things collected this year were a cheque from the Australian Taxation Office, a letterbox on a stand, an electric shaver and crockery items including beer mugs in good condition.
‘A healthy marine environment is critical for our NT seafood industry.
‘Rubbish can lead to wildlife entanglement, animals mistaking plastic for food, microplastics entering the food chain or vessel propeller fouling, so any rubbish in the sea is a concern,’ said Ms Lambeth.
As with previous years, the clean-up was strongly supported by private businesses, community groups, government agencies, non-government organisations and the general community.
This year’s theme was Fashions on the Wharf – wear something rubbish, with some participants adding a touch of recycled items to their clean-up clothing while others interpreted this as an opportunity to pair golfing socks with Hawaiian shirts and floral shorts.
‘While we may have a bit of fun dressing up in recycled fashion, the serious aim of Darwin Harbour Clean-Up is to raise awareness of the sources and effect of rubbish ending up in the sea and to encourage everyone to bin it or take it with you,’ Ms Lambeth went on to say.
The 2016 Darwin Harbour Clean-Up is organised by the NT Seafood Council and supported by Territory Natural Resource Management through funding from the Australian Government. Further funding, resources, staff and volunteers are provided by numerous supporters and participants.
2016 PROJECT SUPPORTERS AND PARTICIPANTS – DARWIN HARBOUR CLEAN-UP
Amateur Fishermen’s Association of the Northern Territory
Australian Marine Conservation Society
Australian Volunteer Coast Guard
Bhagwan Marine
Belyuen Community
City of Darwin
Conservation Volunteers Australia
Darwin Fish Market
Darwin Port
Department of Defence
Department of Lands and Planning
Department of Transport
Fin Bins Waste Management
Ichthys Project
INPEX
Kenbi Rangers
Larrakia Rangers
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
Northern Land Council
NT Seafood Council
NT Department of Land Resource Management
NT Fisheries
NT Recycling Solutions
NT Water Police
Parks and Wildlife
Paspaley Pearls
Professional Fishing Industry
Sea Darwin
SeaLink Northern Territory
Surf Life Saving NT
Tangaroa Blue Foundation
Territory Natural Resource Management
US Marines
Wagait Beach Community
Wagait Beach Supermarket
Wagait Shire Council
Media contact:
Lyn Lambeth 0497 865 082