Floating debris—what we can do

By Gerard Walsh

We are all familiar with the problem of rubbish in our oceans. Floating debris is just the tip of the iceberg, but because of its mobility and appearance as food to marine life, it has a particularly disturbing impact on the environment.

• Tiny fragments of plastic are ingested by fish and shellfish. These micro plastics enter the food chain, making animals and people sick.

• Pristine environments enjoyed by locals and paying tourists are being tarnished by unsightly rubbish.

• Marine animals are getting entangled or ingesting items such as plastic packing straps, straws, bait holders, fishing line and foam packaging, causing injury and starvation.

• This rubbish can even damage your vessel. Larger items can damage hulls and propellers—even the smallest cut-off of rope can ruin a propeller shaft.

While rubbish in our oceans predominately comes from land sources, ships and boats are also contributing to this problem. Plastic lines, ropes and fishing nets significantly contribute to the issue, as does other garbage generated on board that ends up in the sea. But fishing gear isn’t the only culprit—how often do you see things like cigarette butts, shopping bags, packaging, straws, plastic bottle tops and stubby six-pack plastic where they shouldn’t be?

Our livelihoods depend on a healthy marine environment and safe working conditions and the good news is there are simple things we can and should do to turn this around.

Quick wins

• Secure items like fishing gear, pens, phones and device charges.

• Secure garbage bins and make sure crew and passengers know where they are.

• Highlight to crew and passengers that it is against the law to throw rubbish overboard.

• Take all your rubbish ashore to recycle and dispose of properly.

• Contact your local marina, boat harbour, port or terminal to find out what waste collection and disposal facilities are available.

• Only use plastic packaging and other disposable items if you can store it on your vessel until you can get back to shore to dispose of it properly.

• Store waste fishing gear like cut-off lengths of rope or line, damaged floats or lures and used glow sticks in closed containers and stow all your gear when you are not using it.

• Check your lines and nets regularly for damage.

• Consider using biodegradable fishing gear to reduce entanglement of marine life.

Report dangers to navigation such as floating logs and ghost nets by emailing reports@amsa.gov.au

From: Working Boats, April 2019