A cleanup along the north wall at the shipping channel at Bundaberg Port was initiated last month by a group of the local net fishermen. These fishermen are increasingly concerned about the impacts of litter and pollution on fish habitats and marine life. 

 

The area North West of the wall, known as Skyringville has a complex ecosystem of mangroves, saltmarsh wetlands and channels that were once highly productive nursery areas for important commercial fish species.  This area has become degraded due to changes made as part of the shipping channel.  The introduction of the North wall has changed flows and fish movement and resulted in sedimentation.  Dumping of dredge spoil has smothered hectares of valuable habitat.

 

This area now traps rubbish, as tidal water and flood water carries rubbish downstream.  The rubbish is largely coming from the Bundaberg Stormwater system which discharges directly into the Burnett River.

 

The majority of this litter is not biodegradable and will end up in the ocean where it will take many, many years to break down into smaller pieces.  Once plastics do begin to break into pieces, the risk of them being ingested by marine animals’ increases dramatically.

 

A basic inventory of what was collected over 1 ½ hours clean up by 8 people (which included 4 fishermen, 1 Ranger from Qld Parks and Wildlife Service, 1 from BMRG, 2 from Ocean Watch Australia) is as follows:

48 Bags of litter

3 car batteries

3 sheets of corrugated iron

2 tyres

2 pieces of steel frame

 

AS well as the litter trapped in the wall, there is a concerning amount of rubbish being left at Skyringville by campers.  This is mainly stubbies, plastic drink bottles, old fridges and freezers and car batteries and sheets of iron.  It’s important that people understand that having a ‘right’ to use public land for recreation also means having ‘responsibilities’ and chief among these is taking all your rubbish with you when you go home. It’s also important that the wider community understand that their litter, if it’s not in the bin, can easily end up in the ocean!

 

Ocean Watch Australia, through its Tide to Table program is working with these fishermen and others in the Bundaberg region to protect these important fish habitats. These conscientious fishermen strongly support the Burnett Mary Regional Group’s recent Stormwater campaign and they are keen to work with BMRG, Ocean Watch Australia and Councils to see changes implemented that could reduce the impact of litter on our waterways and ocean.

 

      For more information please contact Bec Nicoll from OceanWatch on:   07 4153 3866 or Mob: 0434 211 241 Email:  rebecca@oceanwatch.org.au www.oceanwatch.org.au

 

 

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