Protecting the Values of Our Ramsar Wetlands Shoalwater/Corio Bay

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On-ground work

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Greening Australia

Fitzroy Basin Association

Fitzroy River and Coastal Catchments

Australian Defence Force

Six community groups

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22 March 2012

30 June 2013

This project will engage the local community to address the accumulation of marine debris on Ramsar Wetland beaches at Shoalwater and Corio Bays and return the beaches to their original ecological value. It has arisen out of a need to add value to an existing project.

Marine debris collects in and around the wetlands by floating on prevailing winds and currents. Recent flooding in the Fitzroy River has exacerbated the problem. Large items of debris can trap wildlife, while smaller fragments containing toxins enter the ecosystem and bioaccumulation.

Project activities include: removing debris, recycling contents, tracking rubbish origins, liaising with Tangoroa Blue to contribute to the national database, and working with government agencies to track illegal dumping of debris. Additionally, ecosystem functionality will be restored to 42ha of Ramsar Habitat.

This project will engage six community groups in addressing marine debris threats to our Ramsar area. In preparation, groundworks have commenced.

In order to address the issue of marine debris, this project will:

• further engage the coastal community
• extend previous project into additional sites with Ramsar Wetlands beaches.

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