SURFERS will be the driving force behind an initiative to keep beaches looking pristine. The Clean Beach initiative, to be trialled on the Central Coast, is supported by Tangaroa Blue and The Surfrider Foundation.

Behind the pilot program is surfer Mandy Marechal and marine biologist Roberta Dixon-Valk. They hope to get other surfers active in removing marine debris from their ocean playground.

Photo by Peter Clark: Mandy Marechal, Nathan Cook and Tasman Marechal collect rubbish at Forresters Beach.

Other supports include big wave surfer Dylan Longbottom and Marechal’s husband and fellow surfer Rex. Marechal said they hoped to get a younger generation involved.

“The program’s aim is not only to achieve cleaner beaches through monthly clean-up days but to raise levels of environmental awareness, particularly among the 11 to 20-year-olds,” she said. Marechal said studies had shown plastic to be the most common type of debris found on beaches worldwide.

“Plastic and plastic particles in our ocean are killing about 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year not to mention a myriad of other marine animals,” she said.

The first clean-up event will be at Forresters Beach, between 8am and 11am on Sunday with Forresters Beach Boardriders to help. All rubbish collected will be identified, categorised and recorded to document the rubbish and, where possible, its source.

Story courtesy of Express Advocate Central Coast.

The anti-whaling and environmental awareness initiative TransparentSea has scooped the esteemed ASB (Australian Surf Business) Surf Industry Award at the annual Australian Surfing Awards incorporating the Hall of Fame held on Queensland’s Gold Coast on the weekend.

The ASB Surf Industry Award is presented to “a person, persons or organisation that has continued to support the growth of surfing industry through financial and non-financial philanthropic contributions in the areas of community, environment and humanitarian aid during the 2009 calendar year”.

Among the judging panel that voted in the category are world champion surfers Mick Fanning, Tom Carroll and Layne Beachley, renowned author/journalists Sean Doherty, Nick Carroll and Adam Blakey, and industry legends Derek Hynd, Norm Innis and Phil Jarratt.

TransparentSea involved a core group of surfers who undertook a 36-day surfing/sailing odyssey down Australia’s East Coast in sea kayaks last October to highlight the plight of the migrating whales destined for the Great Southern Ocean and the inevitable visits by the Japanese whaling fleets.

In conjunction with Surfrider Foundation Australia and environmental watchdogs Tangaroa Blue, the surfers also participated in beach-clean ups and highlighted other areas of environmental concern.

For our NSW volunteers - there is a new marine debris project taking place on the Central Coast!

The "Take 3 Clean Beach Initiative will hold their first beach clean up at Forresters Beach on Sunday 7th March 8am -11am in conjunction with Forresters Boardriders.

For more information or to register contact Amanda Marechal on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  .

Transparentsea

An anti-whaling and environmental awareness campaign initiated by professional free-surfer and activist Dave Rastovich saw an epic and testing 36 day voyage by sea start on October 1st between Byron Bay and Bondi.

Dubbed "Transparentsea" the campaign took aim at the Australian Government's lack of action on Japanese whaling activity in the Southern Ocean, as well as highlighting areas of environmental concern along Australia's eastern seaboard.

During their frequent stops down the coast, the Transparentsea team in conjunction with Surfrider Foundation and Tangaroa Blue initiated beach-cleanups with all the rubbish collected, tabulated and added to the National Marine Debris database.

Photo: The crew arriving at Bondi Beach. Photo by Skennar/Transparentsea.

Visit the Transparent Sea website.

Launch of Coastcare Week 2009

Tangaroa Blue was nominated to represent Coastcare groups from around Australia at this year's Coastcare Week launch which was held on Collaroy Beach in Sydney on December 7th. Tangaroa Blue co-founder Heidi Taylor presented at the launch along with Coastcare Australia CEO Heather Campbell and Minister of Environment Peter Garrett.

Coastcare Week is a great time for volunteers around Australia to find out about local coastal projects that are happening in their area and help give a little back to the environment!

Photo: Heidi Taylor at the Coastcare Week launch.

For more information on Coastcare visit www.coastcare.com.au