Littering on the Fraser Coast impacts amenity, tourism, habitats, wildlife, and Butchulla cultural heritage and connection to Country.
Plastics from marine debris and discarded fishing lines, pots and nets impact seabirds, shorebirds, fisheries resources, and endangered species, including our milbi (turtle), buthu (dolphin) and yuwang’kan (dugong).
Between 2021 and 2023, the Land and Sea Rangers conducted the Butchulla Country – Marine Debris Clean-Ups project – funded through a Queensland Government’s Community Sustainability Action Grant.
Abandoned crab pots continue to be an issue for marine wildlife and can only be legally removed by a designated officer (Photo: BAC) 
K’gari and BLSR Rangers worked alongside Queensland Fisheries Patrol officers to remove a large number of abandoned crab pots from the Great Sandy Straits (Photo: BAC) 
All crab pots must be tagged with the owner’s contact details and be checked regularly (Photo: BAC) 
BAC’s Rangers undertook cleanups on the mainland, Great Sandy Strait, and K’gari – partnering with organisations including Fisheries Patrol and schools (Photo: BAC) 
Marine debris was sorted, classified and then entered on the AMDI Database (Photo: BAC) 
Access to creeks and mangroves for clean-ups was enhanced by the BAC’s new vessel (Photo: BAC)
The plan was to coordinate a series of twenty-four (monthly) clean up events collaborating with schools, community groups and volunteer participants to clean up Butchulla country. Activities were to be held on the mainland, K’gari, and on the islands and waters of the Great Sandy Strait, including mangroves and tidal wetlands (with both land and boat-based activities). But no one predicted the impacts of the March 2022 SEQ flood event.
By the end of the project the BLSR team had conducted clean-ups over an area of 112Km2 targeting 12 sites with 30 events, removing a total of 328Kg of litter/marine debris. A total of 63 volunteers worked alongside 8 staff to conduct these activities.
Additional funds were provided to assist with the post-flood clean-up effort, which resulted in a further 51.8Km2 clean-up area, targeting 10 sites with 13 events, removing a further 95.7Kg of debris with 35 volunteers working alongside 10 staff.
Litter collected was sorted and recorded, with data collected uploaded to the Australian Marine Debris (AMDI) Initiative database. The team shared their knowledge training Wulli Wulli rangers participating in a cultural exchange in September about collecting and recording litter data using the AMDI methodology.
Rangers were pleased with the number of interested volunteers and new partnerships supported through the project, not only with schools, but Youth Justice Australian Red Cross girls’ program.
Rangers also reported an immediate improvement in creek flows and the appearance of sites, especially flood-impacted sites where an excessive amount of rubbish was removed. Creeks now flow more smoothly, with wildlife returning to these areas.
Although the project has been completed, marine debris clean-ups will continue within the regular work plans of the Butchulla Land and Sea Ranger team.
Article contributed by Chantel Van Wamelen, Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation
FINIA 