Sea Country and Marine Debris
Sea Country and marine debris
Yolŋu people have always protected the sea as part of our law and responsibility. Today, we are facing new threats marine debris washing up from all over the world. From ghost nets to plastic bottles, this pollution is damaging our sacred coastlines. Dhimurru rangers work to track, document, and remove this waste to keep our Sea Country healthy.
Cultural significance
Emphasis on the Yolŋu people’s connection to Sea country and the cultural importance of maintaining, clean and healthy marine environments.
For Yolŋu people, the sea is not just a resource, it is identity. It holds stories, songs and spirit. Keeping Sea Country clean is a cultural obligation, passed down through generations. When we protect the coast, we honour our ancestors and our future.
Impact on ecosystems
Marine debris doesn’t just affect the environment it damages Yolŋu life. It harms the animals we depend on, disrupts seasonal patterns, and makes it harder to hunt, fish, and carry out cultural practices. When the sea is sick, the people feel it. Protecting marine ecosystems means protecting our way of life.
Conservation efforts
Dhimurru rangers lead regular patrols, clean-ups, and monitoring activities across the coastline. Using both traditional knowledge and western tools, we document debris, track hotspots, and report data nationally. Our work is focused, consistent, and always grounded in care for Country.
Community involvement
Opportunities for local communities and volunteers to participate in beach clean-ups and other conservation activities aimed at reducing marine debris.
Caring for Country is everyone’s responsibility. We invite schools, volunteers, and local partners to join in beach clean-ups and awareness events. By working together, we strengthen connections to each other, to place, and to the purpose that unites us.
Education and awareness
Programs and resources aimed at educating the public about the importance of protecting sea country and reducing plastic use and waste.
Real change starts with knowledge. Dhimurru runs education programs to teach people young and old why marine debris matters and what they can do to help. From ranger talks to school workshops and national partnerships, we’re helping people understand that what ends up in the sea affects us all.