Removal of ghost nets and debris from weed beds for the protection of marine mammals from entanglement
Project implemented: 2017
Protection of marine mammals and fish living in the Moreton Bay Marine Park
Protection of the weed beds to reduce the risk of entanglement and plastic ingestion, especially for the endangered turtle population
Identification of trouble areas, then working out the best way to manage the targeted clean-up area
Enlisting volunteers to assist in the cleanup, ensuring that they have received the proper training and are well equipped
Coordinate a scuba-dive in the selected area
Dive debriefing, reporting and sorting of debris
As an ongoing project, we spend time each year scuba-diving the weed beds of the Moreton Bay Marine Park looking for and removing ghost nets and debris from the western side of Moreton Island in Queensland, Australia.
Our mission is to protect marine mammals from entanglement, particularly the endangered turtle population that live in the marine park.
Our team of dedicated scuba-divers are trained in debris removal: we work with National parks and wild-life service and target areas that have been identified as breeding grounds or that have been reported as trouble spots. We use water craft RIB to access these areas and have a support ship where we can collect information and location of the type and amount of debris we can remove.