The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and the Tangaroa Blue Foundation(Tangaroa Blue) will work together to prevent marine debris from ships.AMSA is the national maritime agency whose responsibilities include protecting the marineenvironment from shipping related impacts and is committed to maintaining a safe and clean marine environment.
Part of AMSA’s role in ensuring clean seas is the administration of theInternational Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL). MARPOLprevents marine pollution by managing the discharge of waste from ships.Tangaroa Blue is an Australian registered charity that coordinates the Australian MarineDebris Initiative (AMDI). AMDI is a network of community groups and government agenciesfocused on reducing the amount of marine debris washing into our oceans. Their workincludes beach clean-up activities, marine debris monitoring and administration of theAustralian Marine Debris Database.A Memorandum of Understanding signed by AMSA and Tangaroa Blue this week will promotecooperation and information sharing activities, which will support both parties in minimisingmarine debris. While the majority of marine debris comes from land-based sources, preventingwaste discharge from ships is a key focus for AMSA in environmental protection.
AMSA Chief Executive Officer Mick Kinley said the relationship will support the implementationand enforcement of the MARPOL convention by keeping AMSA informed of marine debris that may wash up on our beaches.
“The information collected by Tangaroa Blue volunteers in beach clean-ups helps us to build abetter understanding of pollution incidents at sea.This will support investigations of illegal discharge of waste from ships and contribute tocommunity awareness of marine pollution prevention.” Mr Kinley said
Tangaroa Blue Managing Director Heidi Taylor said the agreement provides a platform forcitizen scientists involved in the Australian Marine Debris Initiative to report on items of interestto AMSA that are found during beach clean-up events.
“Tangaroa Blue Foundation volunteers provide extra sets of eyes out on the ground aroundthe country to assist in collectingandreporting information through to AMSA on marineenvironment pollution.”
Source: AMSA