Clean-up targets Cleaverville shoreline

Three Pilbara ocean lovers have banded together to organise an underwater, above-water and shoreline clean-up at Cleaverville this weekend.

Pilbara Dive and Tours owner Natalie Callanan, Cracker Jack Paddle Sports owner Jaclyn Nicholl and West Pilbara Turtle program co-ordinator Carissa Ives will lead a group of volunteers on the above and below-water clean-up.

Ms Callanan said while there was not a huge amount of rubbish underwater at Cleaverville, it was enough to cause problems.

“It is mostly fishing line which gets tangled up in the coral underwater,” she said. “If we can pick up all those little things that people often walk past, that will help keep the area healthy.”

Ms Callanan encouraged the public to come along to what would be a fun family day.

Ms Ives said Cleaverville prov-ided important habitat for flatback, hawkesbill and green turtles.

“It’s not just the rubbish, it is the human impacts on the beach as well,” she said.

“Rubbish getting into the water is mistaken for food and ingested, it then builds up in their system and can cause death.

“It’s not just turtles, it’s all marine life in the area that is affected by rubbish.”

Ms Nicholl said she would have some extra helping hands on board to help with the beach clean-up.

“I will be bringing my junior development squad so they can give something back to the community and help clean the coastlines they paddle,” she said.

“Hopefully we can clean up the space and just make it good and safe for nesting season.

“It’s a really unique way to approach it because we are hitting three different area — the beach, reef and shoreline.

Money raised from the City of Karratha’s bucks for bags program will be donated to the Pilbara Wildlife Carers.

A barbecue will be hosted after the clean-up.