Young Ocean Stewards Spearhead Shoreline Cleanup Effort
Between July and November of this year, young local ocean conservation campaigners and brothers, Charlie, Flynn and Oliver (Instagram @Earthy Surfs), invite the community to help them in targeting and removing fishing line and other debris from the Tweed River mouth walls – the southern wall at Fingal Head and the northern wall at Duranbah. Charlie aged 11 years, appeals to the community by saying “If we don’t take action to help marine animals they might not survive. It’s like forgetting to take care of your friends underwater. Every time we collect marine debris we could be saving a sea bird or turtle from entanglement or from ingesting plastic.”
Containers and signage on the walkways to both rock walls invites walkers, fishermen, surfers and beachgoers to consider spending a few minutes collecting marine debris. A sculptural reflection of gathered debris is underway, to highlight the volume of marine debris that gathers along these walls, posing a threat to our local marine life. All community members who wish to view the sculpture as it grows are encouraged to follow the journey at Earthy Surfs on Instagram.
Fishing lines, typically made of durable synthetic materials, are designed to withstand the harsh marine environment. However, this design innovation becomes a curse to marine life when lines are lost, discarded, or improperly disposed of. Fishing lines can persist in the ocean for decades, even centuries, continuing to ensnare marine life and damage fragile ecosystems long after their usefulness has ended. The threat posed by fishing lines and other marine debris is profound and urgent. Yet, with collective action and unwavering dedication, the Earthy Surfs team believes they can turn the tide. Flynn aged 13 says, “If we work together, we can make the oceans a cleaner and healthier place…. We must take care of the ocean, because the ocean isn’t only a source of life of marine animals, it is a source of life for us as humans. We need to respect the ocean and take responsibility for our impact”.
