Page 16 - Tropic Magazine Issue 16

INDUSTRY • ENVIRONMENT

Plastic warriors

CLEAN UP
Parley for the Oceans launches
in Australia to mobilise a
plastic-combatting army for
the Great Barrier Reef.
Island clean-up Christian Miller. Photo: Nadia Aly
Words Renee Cluff
The Cambridge English Dictionary Tropic talks to Christian about his work time I go crazy! My first ever night dive
defines the word parley as: To meet in as an ocean activist, turtle rescuer, beach I did in the Great Barrier Reef, I saw a
order to discuss something, especially clean-up organiser and photographer. In decorator crab. I had no idea what it
how to end an argument or a war. his spare time, he also runs North Cairns was, but I freaked out because I thought
The war, according to international eco-friendly printing business Shirt Box I saw a walking Hawaiian pizza. But to
movement Parley for the Oceans, is with his partner, Maren. brush over other experiences, it’s hard
being waged by humankind on the to top looking a whale in the eye and
largest and most important ecosystem How did you develop your love of the ocean? feeling their sounds vibrating every
on earth. German-born Cairns resident I did my first scuba dive in Australia as bone in your body.
Christian Miller is front and centre a child and the initial fear I had of the
of the organisation’s 2019 move into unknown turned into an obsession,
Australia. Mr Miller wants the group to especially with sharks! There was FOREIGN BODIES
take action on beaches in eastern Cape nothing more beautiful! From then on The Australian Institute of
York, a region where ocean currents it was hard to get me out of the water. Marine Science has confirmed
deliver large quantities of plastic direct I did my dive instructor course and the presence of marine micro-
to the northern areas of the Great travelled the world and that’s when I saw debris, including microplastics,
Barrier Reef Marine Park every year. A what we are doing to the oceans and the in wild-caught fish on the
recent research expedition by a Parley urge increased to actively do something Great Barrier Reef. They found
team uncovered 638 kilograms of about it. After spending years overseas, I micro-debris items in the
plastic. The group removed the plastic came back to Cairns to work in the Great gastrointestinal tracts of
waste from five islands, and also found Barrier Reef. I missed the place that juvenile coral trout caught on
the surface water heavy polluted by made me fall in love with the ocean! reefs around Lizard, Orpheus,
micro-plastics. Further expeditions by Heron and OneTree Islands. 19 of
the group are planned and the findings Do you have a particularly memorable the 20 fish contained a total of
will help assess the effort needed to underwater moment? 115 micro-debris items.
clean-up the islands. Anytime we see something for the first

REEF GUARDIAN
Lizard Island Resort is working our oceans and to the ecosystem
to become a plastic-free holiday that surrounds us, this is an
destination. The executive director integral step towards keeping out
of parks and resorts at Delaware vibrant marine life safe.” Every
North Companies, Greg Magi, said guest who visits the island gives
60% of all the resort’s waste is back to the local environment via
already recycled or deployed for an Environmental Management
alternative use. “Lizard Island Charge fee charged by the Great
Resort is privileged to operate on Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,
the very doorstep of one of the which goes directly towards
world’s most spectacular national conservation. Lizard Island is also
wonders,” he said. “Given plastic a founding member of the Citizens
Lizard Island Resort
pollution is the biggest threat to of the Great Barrier Reef.

16 • Tropic • Issue 16