Home to spectacular reefs and islands, unique species and diverse ocean life, our waterways are enjoyed by millions of Australians and visitors each year.
This National Volunteer Week, AMSA is celebrating the achievements of dedicated volunteers who monitor beaches and waterways, clearing washed up and dumped rubbish.
This year's theme is Making a world of difference and thanks to the ground-swell of people who want to see our coastline garbage-free, we say thank you for making a difference to our marine environment.
According to the Australian Marine Debris Initiative, more than 13 million pieces or 1100 tonnes of rubbish have been cleared from coastal areas by volunteers since it launched in 2004.
AMSA is committed to keeping our seas safe and clean and preventing pollution of our waterways in the first place is the best measure to ensuring our precious oceans are safe for people and marine wildlife.
We appreciate the efforts of coastal clean-up volunteers who demonstrate their dedication to maintaining pristine coastlines.
Photo credit: Reef Check Australia diver working on the ReefClean project delivered by Tangaroa Blue Foundation.
