Chapter 5
Strategies for the removal of marine plastic pollution
5.1
This chapter examines the scope and effectiveness of current strategies
to remove existing pollution from the marine environment. This includes
community- and volunteer-based clean-up programs, and efforts to remove
discarded, lost and abandoned fishing gear.
Clean-up programs
5.2
Since the 1980s and 1990s, clean-up programs involving the collection
and removal of litter and debris from the marine environment have formed a key
component in strategies designed to reduce the threat from marine plastic
pollution. These programs are undertaken by both community and not-for-profit
organisations, and Commonwealth, state and territory, and local governments.
Clean-up and debris removal remains a key strategy of the Threat Abatement
Plan.[1]
Government funding for clean-up
initiatives
5.3
The Australian Government funds a number of initiatives which focus on
marine debris removal in conjunction with industry, community groups, and
state, territory and local governments. These initiatives include beach and
waterway clean-up projects, and the removal of debris from ecologically
sensitive areas such as the Great Barrier Reef. In addition, a number of
community and not-for-profit organisations are engaged in clean-up programs
designed to remove plastic pollution from the marine environment.
5.4
The Australian Government currently provides funding for clean-up programs
covering an area of 30–40 kilometres of beach in Queensland. These funds are
provided through the Department of the Environment's Green Army Project.[2]
The Australian Government has also provided $700,000 through the Reef Trust to
remove marine debris form the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The Great
Barrier Reef Marine Debris Clean-Up Project is being delivered by the Great
Barrier Marine Park Authority over two years until 30 June 2017. The project
aims to reduce the sources and occurrence of marine debris, and its impact on
protected species such as turtles and dugongs. It will involve coordinated
on-ground clean-up activities and a public education campaign.[3]
5.5
The Australian Government also funds community-based clean-up and marine
debris monitoring program in the Gulf of Carpentaria and Arnhem Land, and on
the Cape York Peninsula. This funding is provided through the Queensland Government
for community-based programs on the east and west cost of Cape York Peninsula
and the Torres Strait.[4]
5.6
The Australian Government also provides funding through the National
Landcare Programme to organisations engaged in clean-up activity. Clean Up
Australia currently receives $300,000 over three years to assist in its
campaigns.[5]
Effectiveness of clean-up programs
5.7
Organisations and individuals engaged in clean-up programs provided
evidence of the large volumes of plastic pollution collected by volunteers, and
the commitment of volunteers be it on one day or over large periods of time.
5.8
One of the largest clean-ups is organised by Clean Up Australia, a
national non-profit organisation which was founded in 1989 in response to
significant levels of plastic pollution in the marine environment. It
coordinates community-based volunteer clean-up programs designed to collect
debris from beaches, natural areas, parks and streets. Clean Up Australia
submitted that over 25 years, some 28.75 million hours have been volunteered in
Australia and over 302,213 tonnes of rubbish have been removed.[6]
5.9
Similarly, the Tangaroa Blue Foundation, a registered charity
established in 2004 coordinates the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI).
The AMDI is a 'national network of volunteers, communities, schools, Indigenous
rangers, industry groups and government agencies working on both removal and
mitigation of marine debris from marine, coastal and estuarine environments'.[7]
Ms Heidi Taylor, Managing Director, explained that:
To date, more than 5.4 million marine debris items have been
entered into the AMDI database with the assistance of 902 partner
organisations. This debris has been removed from 1,729 sites and the weight of
the debris has been totalled at over 500 tonnes, with 152,693 volunteer hours
being logged. If these hours were valued at $30 an hour, that is a contribution
of $4.58 million for the removal of marine debris nationally.[8]
5.10
Other organisations provided evidence of their clean-up efforts including
Eco Barge Clean Seas, a not-for profit organisation established in Airlie
Beach, Queensland. Since the inception of the Whitsunday Marine Debris Removal
Program in 2009, over 130,000 kilograms of marine debris have been removed from
the Whitsunday Region.[9]
5.11
The committee also received a number of submissions from individuals who
engage in clean-up activity on an ad hoc basis as part of their engagement in
leisure activities in the marine environment.[10]
5.12
Despite the large volumes of debris removed from the environment during
clean-ups, it is evident that the amount of marine plastic pollution continues
to grow. Ms Terrie-Ann Johnson, Managing Director, Clean Up Australia,
commented that over the years in which Clean Up Australia has been engaged in
litter collection activities, the amount of plastic pollution collected has not
reduced. Ms Johnson stated that 'individual beaches might be doing better, but
as a whole, the sector of beaches is not doing better'.[11]
Similarly, Eco Barge Clean Seas noted that marine pollution continues to arrive
at rates in excess of two kilograms per day at some locations in the Whitsunday
Region. As a result, approximately 40 maintenance clean-up trips are required
per year to prevent significant accumulation from occurring.[12]
5.13
Notwithstanding the considerable efforts of volunteers, submitters
stated that clean-up programs are insufficient to reduce the ever-increasing
volume of plastic pollution, particularly in the marine environment. For
example, Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council commented:
NRM groups and members of the public with the Wide Bay
Burnett region spend many thousands of dollars from government funding
initiatives and countless man hours conducting clean ups on beaches and islands
within our local area and the issue is not improving over time.[13]
5.14
Similarly, Mr Brendan Donohoe, President of the Northern Beaches Branch,
Surfrider Foundation Australia, told the committee:
Our hundreds of volunteers are involved in many beach
clean-ups around the country each year and it is essentially a simple fact that
where we feel as though we are standing on the porch and mopping it while there
is a fire hydrant of plastic just gushing out behind us.[14]
5.15
Clean-up activities in remote areas of Australia are a particular
challenge. Ms Taylor noted that in Cape York there is a high level of debris
coming from other places and up to one tonne per kilometre is being removed
annually. However, there is no recycling and limited waste management
infrastructure in the region. This results in debris being burned causing an additional
environmental issues.[15]
5.16
It was also argued that the general community should not rely on the
small number of dedicated volunteers 'to bear the responsibility for cleaning
up after everybody'.[16]
Mr Dave West, environmental economist advising Clean Up Australia, added that:
The community's effort and the support of local government,
individual members of parliament, community leaders and those sorts of things
on litter are something that we should not diminish or at any point not
congratulate, because we do not want to disincentivise that. The point is
probably that you just cannot rely on volunteers trying to deal with that if
you want to fix the problem rather than hide the problem.[17]
5.17
Other witnesses also challenged the value of singular clean-up events.
While commenting that clean-ups are vital, the Tangaroa Blue Foundation stated
that 'one-off clean-ups are a waste of money and investment'.[18]
Similarly, Mr Jeff Angel, Executive Director of the Total Environment
Centre, told the committee that the core problem with clean-up programs is:
...the irregularity of the clean-ups. Clean Up Australia does
an enormous job, but it is once a year, mainly. Sorry, but the other 11 months
there is stuff progressively building up in the environment.[19]
5.18
The scale and cost of collection of marine debris in Australia was also
recognised by the Department of the Environment which stated:
...you are talking about a pollution load, a marine debris
load, that is spread across a huge coastal area and a huge marine environment,
and there is not going to be an economic or efficient way to capture and
collect all of that material.[20]
5.19
The cost effectiveness of clean-up activities was also discussed in the
context of at-sea collection initiatives. In particular, the committee noted
public discussion of the Ocean Cleanup Project which proposes removing marine
pollution using surface nets.[21]
However, Dr Britta Denise Hardesty from the CSIRO told the committee that
despite there being public discussion around 'going out and cleaning up the
garbage patches' in the open ocean, 'scientists around the world...are pretty
much in agreement that that is not really a practical or viable solution'.[22]
Dr Hardesty explained that not all the pollution floats on top of the
water—plastic moves throughout the water column—and it would be economically
expensive to remove the plastic in these locations.[23]
5.20
Despite concerns with the reliance on volunteers and effectiveness,
clean-ups were still seen as having a place in marine plastic pollution
mitigation efforts but it was argued that long-term strategic clean-up effort
is needed and funding should be secured for these.[24]
5.21
However, submitters commented that the major thrust of any policies to
address marine plastic pollution must be source reduction. For example, Ms
Taylor, Tangaroa Blue Foundation, stated that:
...if all we do is clean up, that is all we will ever do.
Debris needs to be tracked to the source and practical, cost-effective
source-reduction plans implemented to stop at the source.[25]
5.22
Similarly, Clean Up Australia told the committee that:
...while volunteer and infrastructure efforts are commendable
and are having an effect on the problem...addressing the problems of rubbish at
the point of consumption is a far more cost effective approach than trying to
recover packaging and products one they have entered our environment.[26]
5.23
Source reduction is further discussed in Chapters 6 and 7.
Value of clean-up programs in
raising awareness
5.24
Despite evidence indicating that clean-up programs cannot effectively
mitigate the threat of marine plastic pollution, the committee also heard that
participation in clean-up programs can provide valuable public education.
5.25
Clean Up Australia stated that those who participate in events such as
Clean Up Australia Day 'will probably go home and have changed their attitudes
to what they are finding'.[27]
This was also supported by evidence given by Mr Donohoe from the Surfrider
Foundation who stated:
The great feature of getting the public involved in a beach
clean is that once you have done one of our beach cleans properly, and you
weigh it and you look at it, you could never ever just drop something anywhere
again.[28]
5.26
The value of awareness raising activities and education campaigns is further
discussed in Chapter 6.
Research developments
5.27
The committee notes that research into clean-up strategies, and
technological solutions to reduce the amount of plastic in the environment is
ongoing. For example, during the conduct of this inquiry, the committee noted
an announcement from research scientists in Japan who discovered a species of
bacteria capable of degrading PET plastic, and utilising the plastic as a food
source.[29]
5.28
The researchers, in an article published in the journal Science,
described the bacteria Ideonella sakaiensis 201-F6 as having evolved
enzymes specifically capable of breaking down PET in response to the
accumulation of plastic in the environment. The bacteria were capable of rapidly
hydrolysing plastics, with tests revealing that almost complete degradation of
low-quality plastic occurred within six weeks.[30]
5.29
The research team noted however that though these bacteria could prove
useful in industrial recycling or pollution clean-up efforts, there remains
significant research to be conducted. Similarly, the plastics industry is
reported as having stated that the potential for biological processes to
replace current mechanical recycling processes is small.[31]
5.30
The committee also notes that Dr Hardesty cautioned against trying to
develop bacterial species to break down plastic as 'the issue is so ubiquitous
and pervasive that it is sure to be compounded by some other significant
challenges should such an approach be taken'.[32]
Reporting and collection of abandoned, lost and discarded fishing gear
5.31
As previously discussed, ALDFG poses particular risk to marine fauna
through entanglement, and it can also pose risks to fisheries and shipping. As
a result, the importance of reporting and collection has been given recognition
under both international and domestic regulatory frameworks.
Regulation and government
coordinated collection
5.32
Fishing gear, when lost, abandoned or discarded at sea is classified as
garbage and there is a requirement under MARPOL Annex V, and associated
domestic legislation, to report its loss. Fishing vessels are required to
retrieve, where practicable, fishing gear which has been lost or damaged. In
addition, ships' masters are required to record the loss of fishing gear in the
Garbage Record Book or ship's log.[33]
5.33
In addition to Commonwealth legislation, the National Environmental Law
Association (NELA) noted that there are also legislative provisions for the
reporting of lost fishing gear in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Northern
Territory.[34]
5.34
Along with reporting requirements when fishing gear is lost, there are
legislative provisions for the collection and destruction of lost and abandoned
fishing nets. At the Commonwealth level, the Department of the Environment has
legislative oversight for managing harmful marine debris. The Threat Abatement
Plan states that 'Australian Government agencies in collaboration with state
and territory governments [are] to identify appropriate responses and
responsibilities for recovery of hazardous debris at sea, notably large
derelict fishing nets'.[35]
These government agencies include:
-
Australian Fisheries Management Authority;
-
Australian Maritime Safety Authority;
-
Border Protection Command;
-
Department of Agriculture;
-
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority; and
-
Department of the Environment.[36]
5.35
Ms Kerry Smith, Senior Manager, Foreign Compliance Policy from AFMA told
the committee that the 'management of ghost nets is a complex issue'. In
addition, the arrangements for reporting and collection are dependent on the
origins of the net, and where it is encountered, that is in the Australian
Fishing Zone (AFZ) or coastal waters.[37]
5.36
The AFZ was established under the Fisheries Management Act 1991
(Cth) and relates to the management of Commonwealth waters which extend from three
nautical miles from the coastline out to 200 nautical miles. Australian states
and territories are responsible for management of coastal waters, that is, up
to three nautical miles from the coastline.[38]
5.37
Ghost nets which are found within three nautical miles of the coast are
the responsibility of state and territory governments, while those found in the
AFZ fall within the Commonwealth's jurisdiction.[39]
Ms Smith explained that the Australian Border Force, within the Department of
Immigration and Border Protection, is responsible for the management of eight
key maritime threats within the AFZ. These threats include marine pollution,
and the illegal exploitation of natural resources.[40]
5.38
Ms Smith commented that under existing arrangements, reports on ghost
net sightings within the AFZ are made initially to the Australian Border Force Maritime
Border Command, and then information is disseminated to other government
agencies if required.[41]
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) also told the committee that
its 24-hour Rescue Coordination Centre can receive notifications of ghost net
sightings—particularly if the net is large and poses a danger to the navigation
of vessels.[42]
Under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention, ships' masters are obliged
to report dangers to navigation.[43]
5.39
AFMA and the Department of the Environment have utilised a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) for ghost net retrieval in Commonwealth Marine Reserves and
adjacent Commonwealth waters. A civil contractor or Australian Border Force
assets are required to collect ghost nets.[44]
Under the terms of the MOU, the cost of ghost net recovery is split equally
between AFMA and the Department of the Environment. The average cost of ghost
net recovery operations is $30,000; however this does not include the cost of
Australian Border Force surveillance activity or the costs associated with the
destruction of the ghost net.[45]
5.40
The committee received evidence that non-government organisations are
also engaged in ghost net identification and retrieval programs. In particular,
the GhostNets Australia program which initially commenced in 2004 with funding
from the National Heritage Trust. GhostNets Australia is an alliance of
Indigenous communities from coastal northern Australia who work with
researchers to identify and remove derelict fishing nets from the coastal
environment. It has also undertaken engagement with Indonesian communities to
better understand the regional origins of ghost nets.[46]
5.41
Though GhostNets Australia no longer receives funding from the
Department of the Environment,[47]
it continues to operate in conjunction with both public and private support.
The federally-funded Working on Country program provides funding and support
for the training and employment of Indigenous rangers who contribute to the
work undertaken by GhostNets Australia.[48]
5.42
The committee also received evidence that Australian industry bodies are
actively participating in the identification and removal of ghost nets. AMSA
informed the committee that the Northern Prawn Fishery Industry Association has
developed a partnership with World Animal Protection, to monitor and where
possible, retrieve nets in the Gulf of Carpentaria.[49]
Difficulties in detection and
disposal
5.43
A number of submitters highlighted the difficulties associated with the
reporting and collection of ghost nets. These include difficulties in detection
due to the nets being situated below the surface of the water, the remoteness
of sighting locations, and the size of ghost nets. In addition, the disposal of
ghost nets can create environmentally harmful by-products.
5.44
Ms Smith commented that nets that travel below the surface can be
difficult to detect by Australian Border Force air surveillance programs,
though occasionally surface disturbances can allow for identification.[50]
5.45
Work is being undertaken by the CSIRO to identifying the pathways
travelled by ghost nets in the Gulf of Carpentaria. This research identified
points where interdiction can occur before nets travel into areas of high
biodiversity.[51]
The study found that the majority of nets found in the Gulf of Carpentaria
travel close to the Port of Weipa, where they could be intercepted and removed.
This could potentially provide a significant cost saving in recovery efforts;
in addition, existing surveillance efforts currently service this area and
would provide necessary reporting.[52]
5.46
The Department of the Environment submitted that large fishing nets
collected in remote locations are often too difficult to transport to waste
facilities, and are burnt on-site to prevent them from re-entering the marine
environment. However, this form of waste disposal results in 'significant
clumps of cement-like burnt plastic' left on the beach.[53]
This residue can prevent turtles from nesting in these locations.[54]
5.47
In addition, though most nets are often recovered in fragments,[55]
these fragments can still be of considerable size.[56]
For example, in 2012, an 11 tonne ghost net was detected in coastal waters in
the Northern Territory. The net was so large that it had to be cut it into
pieces which were lifted from the site by helicopter, for destruction.[57]
5.48
Mr Stephen Oxley, Department of the Environment, noted that seeking
alternative methods of disposing ghost nets in remote areas was identified as a
priority at the expert workshop held in August 2015 to discuss the development
of the revised Threat Abatement Plan. The workshop also advised that new
technologies such as waste-to-energy systems should be explored,[58]
and this was acknowledged in the Department of the Environment's submission. It
noted that such systems could improve waste management in remote communities.[59]
5.49
The committee received evidence that the aquaculture and fisheries
industries are also engaged in developing innovative strategies to ensure that the
owners of lost fishing gear can remain responsible for collection and removal.
Dr Jennifer Lavers told the committee that in Tasmania, following complaints
from local communities regarding lost items being washed ashore, a number of
aquaculture companies developed a system to tag their equipment. Dr Lavers
stated that local communities can now contact the responsible company to
collect their nets.[60]
5.50
The CSIRO indicated that it is exploring innovative technologies which
will allow for fishing gear to be marked so that it can be identified as originating
from a particular fishery. The CSIRO stated that microdots encoding information
on small dots could be incorporated into fishing gear. In addition, chemical
marking of the ropes used to make fishing nets would enable ownership
identification even in small fragments. The CSIRO stated that both microdot
technology and chemical marking are widely used in other industries, but have
not been previously used in the fishing industry.[61]
Need for national coordination
5.51
The committee received evidence from submitters who were concerned that
there is an apparent lack of coordination in the reporting and collection of
ghost nets.
5.52
The Northern Territory Seafood Council stated that nets are currently
removed on an 'ad hoc basis' by a range of government departments at both the Commonwealth
and the state and territory level. The Northern Territory Seafood Council also
expressed frustration that there appears to be a 'lack of responsibility' for
the retrieval of lost and discarded fishing gear in the AFZ. It highlighted
that Australian fishers are required to report ghost nets as a navigational
hazard, and this information is added to marine chart updates, but there does
not appear to be anybody responsible for ghost net removal.[62]
It noted that there can be a long lag time between the reporting of ghost net
sightings, and collection and removal. This lag time results in the net sinking
or drifting to another location, rendering the report useless. The lack of
timely response also renders the practice of updating marine charts useless, as
the nets' locations are no longer accurate.[63]
5.53
The Northern Territory Seafood Council noted favourably the work
undertaken by organisations such as GhostNets Australia but highlighted that
there is little coordination between non-government organisations. It also
stated that these organisations operate with little funding certainty, or a
plan for managing the issue at a regional level.[64]
5.54
NELA also commented that coordination of relevant Commonwealth agencies
to retrieve and dispose of ghost nets was 'ineffective'. It considered that
this matter should be 'resolved as a matter of urgency'.[65]
Need for regional cooperation
5.55
As the majority of ghost nets found in the north of Australia have been
identified as originating from regional countries, the Australian Government
has designated regional cooperation as a key mitigation strategy.
5.56
The Department of the Environment informed the committee that it
supported project work undertaken by GhostNets Australia, and the CSIRO in
conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (US) and
the Indonesian Ministry for Marine Affairs and Fisheries. The intention of this
project is to reduce the incidence of derelict fishing gear in the Arafura Sea
and through engagement with local fishers, port authorities, local communities
and stakeholders. The project is designed to identify the reasons for fishing
gear loss, and potential mitigation strategies.[66]
Dr Hardesty added that work is being undertaken with overseas neighbours to
look at fisheries related gear and when, how and why fisheries are losing their
gear. Issues will then be able to be addressed.[67]
5.57
The Department of the Environment also provides overseas development aid
to support the Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food
Security. This includes $70,000 for the development of a pilot fisheries
management strategy for the Arafura Sea. The aim of the project is to assist
small scale commercial fishers in managing the loss of fishing gear, and
prevent the eventual movement of ghost nets into Australian waters.[68]
5.58
The need for enhanced regional cooperation and the prevention of fishing
gear loss at the source was also supported by NELA. It submitted that there 'is
a need for technical support to help Indonesian fishermen aggregate location
data on derelict nets'. In addition, it submitted that the Australian
government should also provide aid through low interest loan programs for
fishing gear labelling, and inventory and reporting systems.[69]
Committee view
5.59
The committee accepts that though clean-up activities are an important
strategy in removing existing pollution, and raising public awareness, they alone
cannot reduce the threat of marine plastic. It was consistently highlighted
throughout the inquiry that the rate of plastic pollution entering the marine
environment far outstrips any clean-up activity, and that source reduction
should be the focus of research, policy and investment.
5.60
The committee also notes that the processes currently utilised in the identification,
retrieval and disposal of ALDFG are complex, and involve multiple agencies
across both Commonwealth and state and territory governments. Additionally,
non-government organisations such as GhostNets Australia play a significant
role in clean-up activities. The need for a review of such processes was emphasised
by a number of witnesses, as it would provide an opportunity for the
identification of areas for improvement and role clarification.
5.61
The evidence indicated that the need for cooperation and coordination is
not only required domestically, but regionally. There are a number of opportunities
for Australia to demonstrate regional leadership on this issue, and to further
develop relationships with regional governments and communities.
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page