Ocean Festival Manly Cove Cleanup

Beach clean with Eco Adventure Crew, become a citizen scientist surveying microplastics with AUSMAP, strawkle with Operation Straw, and participate in the Reshaping Waste workshop with Pittwater Eco Adventures.

What is a strawkle?

A strawkle is a snorkel for straws and other marine debris. Since Summer 2018, volunteers have collectively removed over 6,000+ straws from Manly Cove.

What happens during the beach clean?

During the beach clean, you’ll be strolling the beach: both dry sand and tideline, to find rubbish of all shapes and sizes. On particularly rubbish days you may also want to wade the water to rescue it from the shallows of the sea.

What is a microplastic survey?

Your friends at AUSMAP are on a mission to solve a problem that’s difficult to see – microplastics! You see, plastic doesn’t decompose, it just gets smaller so now the oceans are now full of teeny, tiny pieces of plastic smaller than 5mm!

AUSMAP survey the sand for microplastic, so by sifting through the sand you’ll contribute to a long running scientific data set recording the microplastics at Manly Cove.

What do you need for the event?

All equipment will be provided for the beach clean and microplastics survey, however, it is recommended you dress for the weather including wearing closed-in shoes, and perhaps bring a small towel too.

For the ‘Reshaping Waste’ initiative, they are currently collecting bottle tops types 2, 4, and 5. They would love to take your donations so whether you’re already collecting or are now going to start please bring those with you in a clean state.

If you’re a hot beverage drinker, they’d also love you to bring your keep cup to save waste entering back into the environment.

For the strawkle: You must bring your own snorkel, mask, and fins. Wetsuits are optional but recommended due to the temperature of the water. If you don’t have snorkel gear, contact the organizer before the event to rent some. You must be a competent swimmer and confident in the water, and already know how to snorkel as they do not provide training.

What happens at the event?

• Before 9am: Meet on the grass patch outside the Manly Art Gallery and Museum.
• 9am: Briefing and gear up.
• 9:10-10am: Cleanup
• 9:15-10:30am: Reshaping waste workshop
• 10-10:30am: Debris sort, count, document and disposal.
• After 10:30am (optional): Networking, pack down, and disband to enjoy the rest of the day.

Location: 1A West Esplanade