Marine Debris Project Final Report 2014

eaches having less debris. At the regional scale in contrast, higher population density is associatedwith an increase in the amount of rubbish on beaches.Figure 3. Component of debris that is likely coming from the marine environment.We will soon be adding analyses from the Tasmania survey sites to the analysis, to complete thecontinental scale picture.3.2 At sea surveysIn addition to the 10-day Southern Surveyor research expedition with teachers, we were able totake advantage of another vessel of opportunity to add to the data gaps for where marine debris isin our coastal and offshore waters. Early in 2013 the CSIRO team was able to hitch a ride on one ofthe AIMS research vessels that was working in Queensland. On board this vessel we were able toconduct more than ten sets of surface trawls in coastal Queensland waters (inside the Great BarrierReef from north of Cairns to north of Brisbane).The TeachWild intensive research expedition from Broome to Darwin was a tremendous success, inspite of initial rough conditions at sea which made for a challenging first few days at sea. Everyoneadapted quickly to life on board the ship, and we were able to complete trawls at approximately 23sampling stations – a tremendous feat!Page | 229