Twenty years of data continues to drive decisions that improve waterway health.
When you’re submerged in an environment, like a scuba diver in the ocean, you notice things that don’t belong. For Heidi Tait, that was plastic.
Whilst working as a dive instructor overseas, Heidi would surface questioning, why is this here? And more importantly, what can I do about it?
“I wasn’t alone in my concern,” says Heidi.
“My circle of fellow ocean lovers believe that if you benefit from the ocean, you also have a responsibility to give back.”
And so, in 2004 Tangaroa Blue Foundation was born. What started as a small, impassioned group monitoring the impacts of marine debris, has evolved into a movement leading the charge on marine debris.
From the west coast to the east coast and across Australia
The first major clean-up and data collection event took place in October 2005 in Western Australia’s south-west corner. Over 100 volunteers showed up to lend a hand.
“We collected all types of trash, but picked one, and asked, ‘how do we stop this?’” says Heidi, now CEO and managing director of Tangaroa Blue Foundation.
“It took 6 years, but the efforts paid off. We traced hard plastic tape used to secure boxes, to commercial and recreational fishing vessels. In Western Australia, strapping bands must now be removed prior to boxes being loaded on-board vessels.
“That first source reduction plan and major win proved that robust data, collected by everyday people, could drive real change in decision making and improve outcomes for the health of the marine environment.”
By then, Heidi had set up on the east coast, rolling out the initiative in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.
“When we started in 2004, no one was looking at plastic pollution,” she says. “As awareness grew, so did the number of people and organisations wanting to help.”
“To be here, 20 years later, and not be alone, is one of my greatest achievements.”
The framework created by Tangaroa Blue integrates all sectors, all levels of government and hundreds of organisations. It’s a collaboration and results show what can be achieved when everyone works together.
Data: worth more than the weight of trash
Australia has made huge strides in tackling plastic waste. Waste that doesn’t exist, can’t become a problem.
Single use plastic bans? Tick. Straws, cutlery, plates and more are banned or on the way out across the country. The data collected by clean-up volunteers is the driving force behind these changes, although many don’t realise how powerful it really is.
“When Tangaroa Blue started, South Australia was the only state with a container deposit scheme,” explains Heidi. “Now, it’s nationwide.”
“Communities have come a long way to reduce plastic waste and improve the environment. The data collected by Tangaroa Blue’s network has played a key role in those efforts, influencing both state and federal decisions.”
What began as a bunch of Excel spreadsheets has grown into the online Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI), the largest database for plastic pollution in the southern hemisphere.
With 2000 tonnes and 24 million pieces of marine debris recorded, the AMDI is a treasure trove of data helping Tangaroa Blue pinpoint debris hot spots and track where it’s coming from to stop it.
The invaluable data has made its way into key reports like the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report, the Australian Government’s State of the Environment Report, and the Healthy Waters Partnership yearly Townsville Dry Tropics Waterways Report Card.
Executive Officer of the Healthy Waters Partnership, Kara-Mae Coulter-Atkins said litter enters our rivers, creeks and coasts in many ways.
“It accumulates and uses our waterways as highways, harming aquatic animals, degrading water quality and damaging habitats.”
In the 2024 Report Card, litter pressure was analysed at 26 sites around Townsville. Results show that the spectacular, world-class islands in Halifax Bay, which only host small communities, are under the most pressure.
“Litter can wash up on shorelines, like Orpheus Island, hundreds of kilometres from where it entered a waterway,” says Kara-Mae.
“Every piece of litter has passed through a person’s hands at some point. Now, it gets picked up by everyday heroes in Townsville, helping efforts to clean our beaches and waterways. We salute their passion and commitment to improving the health of our waterways.”
When it comes to cleaning up to change, there’s power in people. And there’s serious power in data.
The data used to calculate the litter grades in the yearly Waterways Report Card comes from Tangaroa Blue Foundation’s Australian Marine Debris Initiative Database and is collected by volunteers and partners through the ReefClean® program, funded through the Australian Government’s Reef Trust.
Tracking trash to tackle pollution in Townsville
‘Ditch the Flick®’ was delivered by Tangaroa Blue Foundation, ReefClean® and Townsville City Council in 2021. Flick here to learn more.