What began ten years ago as a response by two Sea Shepherd volunteers — alarmed by the growing volumes of plastic washing up on Australia’s beaches — has grown into one of Sea Shepherd Australia’s most impactful national campaigns. From its early days of volunteer-led local beach clean-ups, the campaign quickly evolved into a coordinated, nationwide effort driven by the urgent need to tackle plastic pollution at its source.

Over the past decade, the Marine Debris Campaign has delivered more than 1,400 community clean-ups, engaging over 43,000 participants across the country. Together, volunteers and communities have removed more than 5.1 million pieces of marine debris, preventing over 142 tonnes of waste from harming coastal and marine environments. Each clean-up not only restores local habitats but also generates critical data used to advocate for improved waste management and long-term solutions to plastic pollution.

Expanding to Remote Coastlines

In 2018, the campaign expanded its scope to include intensive remote clean-up operations, targeting some of Australia’s most isolated and heavily polluted coastlines. These areas, often inaccessible to regular community clean-ups, accumulate vast amounts of debris transported by ocean currents.

Since then, 40 intensive remote clean-up campaigns have been conducted, with over 211 tonnes of marine debris removed from remote and vulnerable environments. These operations play a vital role in protecting fragile ecosystems and highlight the scale of plastic pollution affecting even the most untouched parts of Australia’s coastline.

Celebrating 10 Years and Continuing the Work For The Ocean

To mark this milestone, Sea Shepherd Australia is hosting a series of events at the end of February, inviting communities to reflect on a decade of impact and to take action for the future.

These celebrations include film screenings showcasing the Marine Debris Campaign’s journey, key milestones, and the dedication of volunteers working across both local and remote coastal regions, as well as a National Day for the Ocean on 22 February, bringing people together on beaches around the country to protect marine habitats.

Be Part of the Next Decade

This anniversary is not only a celebration of past achievements, but a reminder that plastic pollution remains one of the greatest threats to the ocean.

Community-led action continues to be one of the most powerful tools for change.

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