Conserving the ocean doesn't always happen at sea. Sometimes the journey starts on land, and here in Australia, our onshore volunteers and supportive community play a huge role in making our campaigns possible — hosting events across the country to help raise funds and send our ships to the front lines where the ocean needs our help most.

Last month was a perfect example of that. We had an incredible 594 volunteers involved in hosting 14 fundraising stalls across the country, from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, all the way over to Exmouth in WA. These stalls aren't just about fundraising, though — connecting with local communities sparks conversations that raise awareness about the threats our ocean faces and how individuals can take action, conversations that reach far beyond our stalls. So whether you purchased merchandise from us or just stopped by for a chat, thank you!

We also hosted 7 community clean-ups and removed a total of 10,419 pieces of marine debris from our coastline across the country. Here's a breakdown of the team's incredible efforts:

• Brisbane – Suttons Beach: 1,531 pieces, 76% plastic, including 435 pharmaceutical bottles and lids
• Sydney – Maroubra Beach: 3,168 pieces, 94% plastic, plus a shopping trolley!
• Exmouth – Town Beach: 670 pieces, 43kg of debris
• Melbourne – Port Melbourne: 2,296 pieces, 99% plastic, from just 80m of shoreline in 2 hours
• Darwin – East Point Beach: 899 pieces of litter
• Broome – Town Beach: 248 pieces of plastic pollution, mostly cigarette butts and food packaging
• Mornington – Safety Beach: 1,607 pieces, including nearly 1,000 tiny fragments of plastic film

Twenty Sea Shepherd Australia volunteers teamed up with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) and Tangalooma Island Resort to remove more than 300kg of marine debris from a three-kilometre stretch of Mulgumpin's Eastern Beach. It was the highest concentration of plastic pollution recorded on the Eastern Beach since annual clean-ups began in 2019, with volunteers encountering alarming levels of both macro and microplastics despite regular QPWS patrols. Removing the larger pieces means they are removed from the environment before they break up into smaller pieces that can be ingested by marine life. 

Our team in Newcastle headed to Lambton High School as part of their Green Week to inspire students to take action for the environment.

Volunteer educators Andrew and Samantha hosted an interactive information stall, giving students the opportunity to learn about Sea Shepherd Australia's campaigns, marine conservation work, and the many ways they can help protect our
oceans. 

The invitation to return for next year's Green Week is a wonderful endorsement of the Newcastle Chapter's education and outreach efforts.

A massive thank to you our incredible volunteers and our supportive community's -  for the hours on the sand, the conversations at the stalls, and the ongoing commitment to protecting marine life. Whether you're picking up litter on your local beach, chatting to us at a stall, or spreading the word to friends and family, every action counts towards healthier oceans for generations to come. 

If you'd like to get involved and volunteer with us, find a chapter near you: Get involved

To find details of all upcoming events: Upcoming events