The telephone started ringing off the hook the night before our Snapper Island Clean Up was to take place, this was mainly due to the 30 knot winds blowing and volunteers concerned about the boat ride out to Snapper the next day.

But we had been checking the forecast regularly and the winds were meant to drop - and drop they did. What a beautiful day out on Snapper Island on Sunday.
 
64 volunteers helped circumnavigate the island to remove marine debris that had been left by campers and washed up by ocean swells. And as the bags came in we recorded another record haul of debris from the island.
 
4219 individual items were collected totalling 531kg that filled 35 bags - All this in just 3 hours!

The most common items removed were 797 bits of polystyrene foam (including many pieces from the Bureau of Meteorology's weather balloons), 667 bits of broken glass, 502 broken bits of hard plastic, 264 lids, 215 plastic drink bottles and 213m of rope.

We also removed a deflated dingy, a Christmas tree decoration, a PVC swim station and a hard hat.
 
It was disappointing to see that some campers that had visited the island had left their rubbish melted in campfires or thrown into the bush. Visitors to Snapper Island come to enjoy its beauty and it's sad to see that they don't leave it beautiful when they leave.
 
A big thank you to all the volunteers who participated and we would also like to thank The Gambling Community Benefit Fund, The Port Douglas Coast Guard, Calypso Reef Cruises, Windswell, OutnAbout

Fishing Charters, Poseidon Outer Reef Cruises, Coles Port Douglas, GhostNets Australia and Cairns Regional Council for their support!
 
Here are some dates for your diaries:
 
February 24 - Screening of the 'Bag It' movie at the Wildlife Habitat - 6.30pm - Visit the Ocean Care website for more information.
 
March 4 - Beach clean up at Cape Kimberley - Meeting at the Cape Kimberley Beach access carpark at 9am. Visit the Ocean Care website for more information.
 
If you'd like to get involved with Tangaroa Blue to help protect our marine environment, please contact me at heidi@oceancare.org.au or call 0410 166 684 to register or for more information. 

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