Australian Seabird Rescue

Issues

Marine debris and domestic waste that finds its way into oceans and coastline breeding grounds has harmful impacts on bird and marine life. Cleanups of the coastline are necessary to remove debris which can entangle or be ingested by seabirds and sea turtles.

Project Summary

The Australian Seabird Rescue group (ASR) works in coastal and wetland areas along the NSW coastline, with branches in Illawarra, Gosford and the Northern Rivers area. The organisation aims to reduce the human impact on coastal wildlife, specialising in the rescue and rehabilitation of seabirds and sea turtles. It is active in coastal clean-up campaigns, as well as education and awareness campaigns about reducing human impacts on the environment.

ASR sought funding from Club Marine to purchase necessary equipment needed to continue and expand their work. The purchase of rescue equipment, including 15 wet weather jackets, 16 wetsuits and six pairs of waders was to increase the occupational health and safety standards for their volunteers. The funding was also sought for updating and improving educational equipment, including three professional standard data projectors, which would be used to deliver training and information sessions to train wildlife carers in seabird rescue and rehabilitation techniques.

Funding was also spent on designing and developing a logo, which would be printed on jackets, wetsuits, and other clothing. Thiswould also be branded with the sponsor’s logo. Receiving wide ranging and high profile media coverage, this will further promote the sponsor, the organisation and the cause. This logo was developed and 500 copies distributed to groups around the country. The ASR logo, Club Marine logo and Landcare logo are also on display on ASR rescue trucks in the north coast.

Three data projectors were also purchased with two of these being distributed to the ASR north coast and south coast branches and being used for important community education programs, including connecting with an estimated 10,000 public tours of the ASR sanctuary in Ballina. They are also being used for school tours and education programs on the south coast. The third is a roving projector that travels with the president of ASR, which is being used for wildlife carer training, and this has been expanded to 12 training programs nationwide, meeting ASR’s long term goals of increasing training around the country. Funding was also used to purchase necessary safety gear to be used in clean-up and rescue operations.