Australia
is the world's largest island with over 7,000 beaches and
approximately 12,000 smaller islands in our waters.
Australia has one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in
the world which includes over 4000 fish species, 166 shark
species and 500 coral species. Our waters have 30 of the world's
59 types of seagrass, which are critical habitats for a diverse
range of marine life, from western rock lobsters to green
sea turtles and dugongs.
But our beautiful marine environments are under threat from
human impact and pollution.
In 1995 the Surfrider Foundation coordinated the State of
the Surf (SOS) project, an on-going review of the documenting
and assessing of human impacts on beaches around Australia.
The report of this project titled, HUMAN IMPACT ON AUSTRALIAN
BEACHES (Michael Legge-Wilkinson 1996) identified ocean outfalls
and stormwater drains as being key sources of pollution threatening
our marine and coastal eco-systems. 80% of discharges and
emissions into the marine environment enter the seas from
land.
Ocean Outfalls
Ocean outfalls are a major source of ocean pollution. There
are currently 141 public sewage outfalls discharging human
effluent and industrial waste into the ocean.
The 141 outfalls have a combined discharge exceeding three
billion litres per day. The largest ocean outfalls are in
Sydney (Malabar Outfall - 430 million litres per day/North
Head - Manly - 280 million litres per day/Bondi - 130 million
litres per day) and Melbourne (Gunnamatta - 250 million litres
per day).
Each year around 10,000 tonnes of phosphorus and 100,000 tonnes
of nitrogen are discharged through sewage, much of which finds
its way into the marine environment. Elevated nutrient levels
may cause eutrophication, the excessive growth of algae, which
depletes oxygen levels in the water and may suffocate marine
organisms.
Heavy metals in industrial waste can work their way through
the food chain and end up in much of the seafood we eat.
Stormwater Outlets The HUMAN IMPACTS report identified 383
beaches around Australia with stormwater pipes discharging
to the beach and/or its lagoon.
54% of these beaches had litter evident in the vicinity of
pipe discharge. The most common litters types evident were
plastic bags, cigarette butts and flood wrappers. Condoms
and syringes were found at 10% of the beaches surveyed.
Urban runoff, whether collected or channelled through a stormwater
system is not usually treated before discharge. Pollutants
that can be inadvertently 'picked up' by urban run-off include:
* oil leaked from car engines and other sources; * bacteria
and nutrients from animal faeces (FACT : Each year 34,000
tonnes of dog faeces is washed into Port Phillip Bay - Melbourne);
* litter and debris from footpaths, gutters and roadways;
* heavy metals leeched from road surfaces and other sources;
* bacteria and nutrients from sewage overflows.
Recent studies indicate that urban run-off contributes to
37% of the world's ocean oil pollution.
Solutions The Surfrider Foundation has been actively campaigning
in all states for the phasing out of ocean outfalls. We have
also been working in many states to raise public awareness
of the impacts of stormwater through our Stormwater Taskforce.
One of the positive initiatives of this taskforce has been
the stencilling of drains with the message "DRAINS TO
THE BEACH, PLEASE DO NOT LITTER". This helps to raise
awareness of the direct link between stormwater drains and
litter on our beaches.
In 1997 the Surfrider Foundation launch our KEEPERS OF THE
COAST sticker campaign to emphasis the need for community
groups and individuals to take an active interest in their
stretch of coast. Surfriders 'Keepers of The Coast' campaign
has developed a strong sense of 'ownership' with people for
the coast. With ownership comes responsibility and with responsibility
comes action.
1998 is the United Nations International Year of the Ocean.
Having identified the problems and started to empower people
with the skills and desires to help protect and preserve the
coast, the Surfrider Foundation has just launched its MARINE
PARKS campaign designed to raise awareness of the need to
establish more marine parks and surfing reserves around the
country.
Anyone who has ever travelled to Bells Beach in the last few
years would have noticed a dramatic improvement on the health
and state of the native vegetation. This is due to the hard
work of many individuals in the Bells Beach Surfing Reserve
and local environmental group Surfers Appreciating the Natural
Environment who for the last ten years have worked hard to
protect and preserve the delicate coastal heath through the
Bells Beach Surfing Reserve. Surfers and other visitors to
the area have seen the benefits gained in the reserve by putting
management of the area in the hands of surfers and local community
environmental groups with an interest in enhancement and not
exploitation.
1998 International Year of the Ocean
During 1998 the Surfrider Foundation will be actively promoting
throughout the country surfing reserves and marine parks as
viable models for coastal management with the Bells Beach
Surfing Reserve a shining example of what IS possible.
This year the Surfrider Foundation will be holding its 6th
NATIONAL CONFERENCE at BYRON BAY on Saturday 4th and Sunday
5th April. The Surfrider Foundation invites all members to
attend and find out more about the importance Surfing Reserves
and Marine National Parks in an age when so much of our natural
coastline is under threat from development and pollution.
If you would like to find out more about the National Conference
and Surfrider Foundation contact the National Office on 0411
350 870 or write to us c/o P.O. Box 1441 - DEE WHY - NSW -
2099.
For direct info on the National Conference at BYRON BAY in
April check out the BYRON BAY CHAPTER website - http://om.com.au/surfnet/surfriders/
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