There’s a groundswell of registrations for the 2023 Tangaroa Blue WA Beach Clean-up. Volunteers are putting their hands up to clear litter from most beaches across the Margaret River region. And the guides and hikers from Cape to Cape Explorer Tours will be front and centre, doing our bit to help with WA’s biggest beach clean-up!
Exciting new format to keep our coast litter-free
In fact, there’s been so much interest that organisers Tangaroa Blue and local partners Nature Conservation Margaret River Region have closed registrations for the clean-up from October 13-15.
This year there is an exciting new format to boost the impact of the annual event. In previous years, one beach was selected as the site for volunteers to pick up plastic rubbish and litter. But this year individuals, couples, families, groups of friends or workplace colleagues can nominate a favourite beach or coastal location. Then they can spend a couple of hours picking up litter anytime over the 3-day event.
It means that many smaller groups will be covering dozens of beaches. Hopefully, it’ll result in a better outcome for the environment. Then on Sunday, October 15 from 3pm, Margaret River Brewhouse is hosting a “Sip and Sort” event. Here, the litter to be sorted and recorded.
Cape to Cape team take on Deepdene for beach clean-up
Among the army of volunteers registered for the clean-up is Margaret River-based ecotourism company Cape to Cape Explorer Tours. It runs guided hiking adventures on the Cape to Cape Track and also runs the accommodation hub Surfpoint Resort. Guides Murray Stevenson (pictured, top) and Trevor Paddenburg (pictured, above) have put their hands up to remove any litter and washed up plastic bottles from the 6km length of Deepdene Beach (pictured, below). And weekly hikers will also help out to gather any washed-up litter!
Beach clean-up efforts feed into marine debris database
“We walk the Cape to Cape every day. And our guides and hikers are always collecting any litter that washes up on the beaches. So it’ll be business as usual for us. But it’s great to team up with Tangaroa Blue and Nature Conservation to be part of a state-wide beach clean-up,” says Cape to Cape Explorer Tours founder Gene Hardy.
All the rubbish collected by volunteers will feed into the Australian Marine Debris Initiative (AMDI) database. It’s the largest marine debris database in the southern hemisphere with more than 23 million entries. The data is used to identify rubbish hot spots and types of litter. And it’s also used to lobby for better marine and coastal protection and conservation. “It also provides the evidence required to incite real change”, says Tangaroa Blue’s Casey Woodward.
Contributing to a clean ocean and beautiful beaches
Now in its 19th year, the annual beach clean-up is Tangaroa Blue’s largest people-powered event on the calendar. And it’s a favourite for families, community groups, local governments and indigenous ranger groups to contribute to a clean ocean.
If you want to hike the Cape to Cape Track, book your self-guided adventure on the Cape to Cape Track or walk with our expert guides on our 8-Day Guided End-to-End adventure. And we’ll see you on the Track soon!