Marine debris
Each month the park rangers, assisted by volunteers from the station, conduct a marine debris survey at Bauer Bay on the west coast. This involves four people systematically walking a line search pattern across the Bauer Bay beach and picking up every piece of man-made debris that they find.
It is amazing how much 'rubbish' can end up on a beach in the southern ocean where the nearest westward landmass is South America! We picked up 999 pieces of debris, comprising:
- 662 twine
- 306 little pieces of hard plastic
- 10 pieces of rope
- 4 small pieces of rubber
- 3 pieces of glass
- 2 small pieces metal
- 2 pieces of fishing bait equipment.
We may have found a few more pieces but we weren't able to search the parts of the beach occupied by the elephant seal harems.
It wasn't all hard work, and we enjoyed a relaxed evening in the hut afterwards. Eve made a delicious pasta bake dinner, and Paul shared a bottle of wine with all his hard working volunteers.
(Photo: Trish M.)
(Photo: Trish M.)
(Photo: Trish M.)
(Photo: Trish M.)
(Photo: Trish M.)
(Photo: Trish M.)
(Photo: Trish M.)
(Photo: Eve M.)
(Photo: Eve M.)
(Photo: Eve M.)
