Congratulations to the 2011 Clean Across Bass Strait team, which
won the prestigious Pam Keating Environmental Sustainability
Award at this year's Keep Australia Beautiful Awards (Clean
Beaches).
The award recognises the team's efforts in establishing a marine
debris baseline for the remote islands of the eastern Strait, and
its fundraising for Surfrider Foundation, which netted over $15,000
to go towards various marine debris and beach awareness
campaigns.
In February 2011, seven paddlers, led by Outlaw organiser, Jarad
Kohlar, paddled ocean racing skis across Bass Strait, collecting
and documenting the marine debris they gathered on each of the
remote islands they camped at along the way. The mission was to
establish a baseline debris measure and raise awareness of the
impacts of commercial and household waste on our fragile marine
ecosystems.
Well done Brendon, Richard, Sandy, Mick, Couttsy, Emma and
Jarad, and thanks to Butch and Chris from the team's support boat,
Montique, who towed all the rubbish back to the mainland for proper
disposal!
With the 2012 expedition now confirmed for late February, we
look forward to once again getting our hands dirty and cleaning up
this amazing little patch of Australia.
The CABS team hard at work categorising litter on Hogan
Island. Plastic drinking bottlesmade up the bulk of what they
found.