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Sea Shepherd Day for the Ocean

Wednesday, 14 Jun, 2023

Our inaugural Sea Shepherd Day for the Ocean was a huge success in safeguarding marine life!

 

On Sunday, June 4th, passionate Sea Shepherd Australia volunteers came together in full force holding 13 events nationwide! We invited local communities to join us for a day of direct-action beach clean-ups, educational talks, volunteer recruitment and fundraising. 

From Exmouth to Tasmania, Sydney to Perth, Brisbane to Melbourne, Darwin to Adelaide; our Sea Shepherd Day for the Ocean events brought communities together to preserve our precious coastline!  

Equipped with gloves, trash bags, and unwavering determination, teams combed our Aussie coastline. The collective effort showed remarkable results; over 550 kg of rubbish removed. This is 550kg of rubbish that won’t end up in our ocean threatening marine life. 

Teams sorted and counted 27,143 pieces of trash.

The TOP 5 items were:  

8,112 cigarette butts 

3,514 soft plastic remnants 

2,939 paper and cardboard pieces  

1,984 plastic food packaging  

1,843 hard plastic remnants  

However, the day wasn’t just about the clean-up. Our volunteer teams also set up educational stalls and delivered informative talks, helping community members to learn more about local and global campaigns aimed at protecting marine life.  

Crew members from the Shark Defence Campaign on the Gold Coast and in Sydney engaged with locals, addressing various questions about the significance of sharks and how we can protect local marine ecosystems. It was amazing to see volunteers inspiring community members to take action for our precious ocean. 

Community support is vital in keeping our Sea Shepherd ships on the frontlines of ocean conservation. We were blown away by the support and generosity shown by local communities which served as a powerful reminder that together, we can make a huge impact. 

As the day concluded, we couldn't help but reflect on the significance of our collective efforts. Not only did we leave the beaches cleaner than we found them, but we also fostered a sense of unity and purpose among all participants. The Sea Shepherd Day for the Ocean events served as a powerful reminder of the positive impact we can have when we come together for a common cause. 

We extend our deepest gratitude to every volunteer, community member, and supporter who contributed to the success of this event. Your dedication and passion continue to inspire us as we forge ahead in our mission to defend, conserve, and protect the world’s ocean!  

Find the next Sea Shepherd Australia event in your town here.

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