A Good Clean-Up

More than 50 volunteers removed 1,574 kilograms of marine debris from remote beaches and bays along 9 kilometers of the Cape Upstart coastline earlier this month.

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Much of the debris is believed to have been associated with the North and Far North Tropical Low event earlier in 2025.

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Volunteers were joined by Juru Enterprises Limited (JEL), the Juru owned business and the Eco Barge Clean Seas team over four days of hands-on marine debris removal.  

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“This clean-up was about much more than removing debris. It brought people together to care for a coastline and the marine life that depends on it. Every item removed was one less threat in the ocean, and every person involved helped show what a community of care can achieve.” Libby Edge, Founder, Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc.

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Teams worked across identified debris hotspots, while protecting sensitive habitats and respecting cultural protocols. Marine debris within designated transects was collected, sorted, counted and processed to capture and report on key insights to help build understanding of marine debris sources and storm impacts.  

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The clean-up also provided a clearer picture of the debris affecting the Cape Upstart coastline. Across the four days, teams collected debris from designated transects to be further analysed, with the most common debris types –plastic fragments, bottles and oil drums among the most frequently recorded.

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The Cape Upstart Marine Debris Removal Project forms part of the Environmental Cleanup and Local Conservation Program and is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery funding Arrangements.

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