In the first three months of 2026 our incredible AUSMAP Ambassadors have already completed 25 microplastic surveys across 4 states and 2 islands! Communities Leading the Way Across Australia local communities have made a big impact! Proving that meaningful environmental research doesn’t only happen in laboratories, it happens on beaches, in backyards, and through the dedication of everyday people! Victor Harbor Coastcare SA started the year off right with 2 samples, one on Esplanade Beach on the 18th January, and another at Hayborough on the 1st February.  The year began strongly with Victor Harbor Coastcare SA , who completed two early samples at Esplanade Beach and Hayborough. Their work set the tone for what would become a wave of grassroots action across the country. Soon after, Plastic Free Noosa  contributed a sample from Marcus Beach in Queensland, demonstrating how local initiatives can feed directly into broader environmental understanding. Meanwhile, our ongoing monthly sampling with the Cove Collective  has continued to grow in both energy and impact. February’s session with Reshaping Waste  was joined by special guest Amanda Cohn, while March saw an incredible turnout of 45 participants for a combined Clean Up Australia  and Ocean Lovers Festival  sampling event with Roland from Emu Parade  and Ben and Jerry’s Manly supplying coffee and ice cream. These moments show how citizen science doesn’t just collect data, it builds community, awareness, and momentum. Our Clean Up Australia Day and Ocean Lovers Festival March Manly Cove sample Over in Western Australia, our longtime friends at Bottle Top Hill  added to the effort with a repeat sample from Bicton Baths, while Ten Little Pieces  impressed us with their beautiful sample processing and pictures of buckets used at the beach to encourage rubbish collection for their 2 samples on the 6th of Feb at Sunshine and Sunrise beach in QLD.  Ten Little Pieces beautiful Sunshine Beach sample processing From Mainland to Remote Shores Citizen science knows no boundaries. Leonie and Wayne, two incredible ambassadors, have been travelling the country with a sieve and bucket in hand. Their contributions from Lord Howe Island (Neds Beach and Old Settlers Beach) not only provided valuable samples to our hotspot database , but also captured the beauty and vulnerability of these remote environments. Leonie and Wayne at Neds Beach on beautiful Lord Howe Island, 15 Feb In Sydney, the Clovelly AUSMAP Community Group, led by Ross Feller, continued their dedicated local efforts! Then we took an excursion to Karta Pintingga/ Kangaroo Island thanks to the SA Citizen Science Grants from the Department of Environment and Water . We collaborated with the incredible Friends of Parks K.I. Western Districts  organised by Bev and Collin for a sample at Vivonne Bay.  Rounding out the quarter, Hastings Environmental Rotary  in Port Macquarie contributed their third sample from the region at Oxley Beach! Community day with Friends of Parks K.I. Western Districts at Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo Island, 7 March. This project is supported by the DEW Environmental Small Citizen Science Grants 2023 Meanwhile, our Senior Science Officer Dr Natasha Franklin collected a total of 7 samples in her own time documenting the high loads of plastic brought in by weather and swell in the past few months. The bottom 1mm sieve from Dr Natasha's microplastic sample at Colins Flat beach Why Citizen Science Matters Each of these samples tells a story. On their own, they are snapshots. But together, they form a powerful dataset that helps us understand how plastic pollution moves, accumulates, and impacts our coastlines. It empowers individuals and communities to take part in real scientific action. It builds awareness and stewardship, turning concern into action. It expands our data set far beyond what our small team could achieve. And critically, it provides the data needed to drive change, from local cleanups to national policy discussions. Without the contributions of volunteers, ambassadors, and community groups, this level of insight simply wouldn’t be possible. A Collective Effort To everyone who has taken part, whether collecting samples on beaches, sorting debris in the office, or supporting these efforts behind the scenes, thank you. Your time, energy, and care are what make this work possible! Citizen science is more than participation. It is collaboration, connection, and impact! Want to get involved with AUSMAP and become a volunteer? Submit your interest here!

AUSMAP's shoreline monitoring provides some of the first site-specific evidence of synthetic grass fibres accumulating in Metropolitan Sydney waterways.  Synthetic grass installations are now commonplace across Australia, appearing everywhere from community and elite sports fields to school playgrounds, party boats, residential yards and public landscaping . These surfaces have been associated with a range of concerns, including surface temperatures reaching up to 75 °C  on hot days, increased player injury risk, reduced biodiversity, and intensified urban heat , particularly in Sydney's Western Suburbs. This increasingly popular plastic product has the potential to release microplastics into surrounding drains, parks, and waterways, contributing to a growing and largely unmanaged source of urban plastic pollution.  Artificial greenery, including synthetic grass observed along tide line of Manly Cove, Sydney - May 2025 Shoreline surveys by AUSMAP demonstrate the presence of synthetic grass fibres in Metropolitan Sydney waterways dating back to 2019. How do synthetic fibres enter the environment? Synthetic grass microplastic fibres are released from their source, such as sporting fields, residential yards, playgrounds, and landscaped areas, through everyday wear, weathering and maintenance activities. Once mobilised, these fibres can enter the surrounding environment via the stormwater network. There, they persist in sediments and along shorelines, where they can act as sponges for other environmental pollutants and be ingested by wildlife. Importantly, this demonstrates that synthetic grass materials are not confined to their points of installation but are dispersed into the wider urban environment. How much synthetic grass has AUSMAP found? Recent AUSMAP data show that synthetic grass fragments are becoming increasingly common in Sydney’s waterways. At regularly monitored locations, such as Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour, synthetic grass debris has increased approximately tenfold between 2022 and 2025 , reaching over 20 blades per square metre. Similarly, at Manly Cove, synthetic grass fragments were first detected in 2019, and concentrations have since tripled , despite natural year-to-year fluctuations. The highest average concentration recorded to date was at Tower Beach (Gamay/Botany Bay), where up to 2,500 blades per m²  were recorded in 2024. Local stormwater inputs, rainfall patterns, and nearby synthetic grass fields in the Botany Bay region likely contribute to the high and variable amounts seen at this site. We need action to prevent further loss into our environment. Microplastic synthetic grass blades at Bondi Beach We are calling for: A 5-year moratorium on new planning and approvals for synthetic grass fields until further research and information on potential human and environmental harm from these fields is clarified. Enforcement of Australian Standards for pollution mitigation measures on synthetic grass fields and more detailed guidelines for field management to be implemented on all existing synthetic fields as soon as possible. Invest substantial effort into improving drainage and the condition of natural grass fields to avoid synthetic grass. Local governments to provide a truly balanced cost-benefit analysis at the end-of-life of synthetic fields compared to those of natural turf. Do you want to learn more about synthetic turf? You can read about the rest of our work on synthetic grass and rubber crumb here , including a deep dive into quantifying how much rubber crumb is coming off synthetic playground flooring. Hosted by AUSMAP and Seabin Foundation , our Beyond the Surface event dove into the impacts of synthetic grass on our environment - followed by an expert panel. Watch the presentation here: Join us in our call for action? Send a letter to your local MP using our easy-to-use template!

“Getting to the UN treaty table takes years of research, data, and community action — and staying there takes ongoing support. We’ve made it this far, and with your help, we can turn this treaty into real change.”  — Dr Scott Wilson, AUSMAP Research Director AUSMAP at the Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations in Geneva Dr Scott on the second row behind the #BreakFreeFromPlastic banner | Photo credit: Trixie Guerrero From 05 to 14 August 2025,189 nations and more than 650 observer groups — from NGOs to scientists to industry lobbyists — gathered in Geneva for the latest round of talks on the Global Plastics Treaty 2025 . This treaty seeks to be the first legally binding global agreement to end plastic pollution. For AUSMAP, this moment is the result of years of citizen science, mapping microplastics across Australia, and pushing our government to take action. Now, we’re bringing that data to the world stage. But after days of tense talks, the negotiations ended in stalemate . The sticking point? Whether to include a binding cap on single-use plastic production  — the very source of the problem. Other issues that remain unresolved include how to address plastic pollution across its entire life cycle and whether to tackle human health impacts and harmful chemicals in plastics. Before Geneva — The Work to Get tHere Our journey started on Australia’s shorelines. Volunteers, schools, and communities have been collecting sediment samples for over eight years. That evidence built the Australian Microplastic Pollution Hotspot Map  — showing that tiny plastic fragments are everywhere, from remote beaches to urban harbours. That map has already influenced state and national policies and scientific research. Without citizen science and robust data, we wouldn’t have a voice in Geneva. At the Negotiations — AUSMAP Driving Change at the Global Plastics Treaty 2025 Inside the UN, three big questions dominated debate: Plastic production caps  — Will the world agree to reduce plastics at the source? Full life-cycle accountability  — From production and chemicals to disposal and waste. Monitoring and enforcement  — Ensuring commitments are more than words. Australia stood firm as part of the High Ambition Coalition  of 120+ nations, pushing for binding rules on plastic production and chemical additives. This group of high ambition nations support a full lifecycle approach to plastics, from production to waste, climate and health impacts.  But opposition came from oil and plastic giants — including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, China, and the United States — who resisted any cap on production, and insisted on focusing on downstream management, like recycling, which we know is not the solution. Meanwhile, industry lobbyists were everywhere. More than 230 lobbyists , mostly from oil, gas, and plastics, had direct access to negotiations — some embedded within national delegations. Their influence was clear: stall, weaken, delay. From AUSMAP’s side, Dr Scott worked with Pacific Island nations, NGOs, and scientists to ensure microplastics are recognised as a life-cycle issue , not just a waste problem. We’ve been making the case that science and monitoring must be central if the treaty is to succeed. Dr Scott outside the Plastic Treaty Negotiations in Geneva - AUSMAP driving change at the Global Plastics Treaty 2025. After the Treaty — What’s Next The reality is clear: a treaty without a production cap is a weak treaty . If necessary, high ambition nations must move ahead together, even without consensus from petrochemical states. We call on the Australian Federal Government to do so, and to do so fast. Australia’s Environment Minister Murray Watt confirmed he is disappointed no agreement was secured, but reinforcing " Australia was never going to accept a bad deal for our environment " . Australia stood strong as part of the High Ambition Coalition, pushing for binding rules to limit problematic plastics and harmful chemicals.  We still have a big job at home:  Australia continues to be the second-largest consumer of single-use plastics in the world, and we can’t recycle our way out of this crisis. We call for: Strong packaging regulations that cut single-use plastics, scales up a circular economy, not just focusing on recycling; Rules that make producers responsible for plastics across their full lifecycle; and Monitoring and enforcement systems powered by science and citizen data . The good news? More than 80% of Australians support strong packaging laws . Now it’s time to deliver. We still have a big job at home — Australia must now turn treaty promises into strong national action to reduce plastic pollution. How You Can Be Part of This Every shoreline survey, every data set, and every intervention at the Global Plastics Treaty is only possible because of people like you. You can: Donate today to ensure we can keep monitoring our shorelines for microplastic pollution and informing the state, national and international community of our results Share this message with your community Collect a microplastic sample along your local shoreline , if you have been AUSMAP trained. “Plastic pollution is everywhere, but once we make it visible, change becomes possible. The Global Plastics Treaty is a huge step forward — but only if we make sure the promises are kept. That means more science, more advocacy, and more people like you standing with us.” — Dr Scott Wilson, AUSMAP Research Director Dr Scott Wilson representing AUSMAP at the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations _________________ To learn more about AUSMAP’s work and how you can help, visit AUSMAP’s website  or follow us on social media. AUSMAP's work is entirely grant and donation funded - donate here and help us continue the longest running microplastic dataset. Our data helps put microplastics on the map, contributing to real-life science and policy change.

TESTIMONIALs "AUSMAP adapts citizen science to provide a simple and effective methodology for sampling and investigating microplastics and their sources. The intention to engage school students, among other volunteer participants, directly relates to curriculum and is bolstered by an accreditation process for (a) train the trainer – providing teachers and other volunteer leaders with the necessary skills and insights to ensure the sampling protocols are followed and the data is reliable, and (b) working efficiently with laboratories that can investigate selected samples and identify sources, once the first round of investigation has been done by volunteers/students. This helps ensure the data has utility and the overall exercise is meaningful for the participants, particularly where it leads to the effective management of the sources of plastic pollution. My own recent experience of this innovation in practice has been through AUSMAP’s partnership with Macquarie University and Surfrider Foundation in their successful application for funding under Round 5 of the Community Litter Grant Program managed by the NSW Environment Protection Authority. The grant proposal built on earlier work that had been conducted in the Dee Why Lagoon catchment on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Dee Why Lagoon is a critical habitat that is impacted by plastic pollution. The proposed project integrates findings developed using the AUSMAP methodology with EPA approved approaches to investigating and acting on plastic litter using the Local Litter Check online tool. The AUSMAP data was highly effective in considering sources of plastic pollution from a number of land uses in the catchment, which were readily identified, and which pointed to ways to reduce the pollution at sources – through a combination of targeted behaviour change initiatives (supported by the Local Litter Check data) and use of pit baskets (‘drain buddies’) in stormwater drains. The Technical Review Committee that approved the funding strongly endorsed the strategic and innovative approach represented in the grant application. It is hoped that this project provides a model for catchment-based approaches to plastic pollution prevention in similar settings elsewhere." John Lavarack Senior Project Officer Litter Prevention Unit - NSW Environment Protection Authority "As a sport that is powered by nature, SailGP works with local partners in every city we visit on projects to engage our staff, teams and stakeholders and raise awareness of the sustainability issues our planet is facing. SailGP was delighted to partner with AUSMAP ahead of the Sydney SailGP 2020 and join them to collect data alongside their scientists and experts. We thoroughly enjoyed the unique experience of contributing to a piece of research that will help find solutions to the global issue of plastic pollution. It was much more than just your standard beach clean." Alexandra Rickham Sustainability Program Manager - SailGP "The Cooks River Alliance was extremely excited to work alongside AUSMAP. The training program proved a highly valuable and engaging experience, with AUSMAP’s collaborative and hands-on approach empowering organisations and individuals to better understand and take meaningful action against the pervasive threat of microplastics to waterways such as the Cooks River.” Tom Sinclair Senior Catchment Officer - Cooks River Alliance "I very much enjoyed working with AUSMAP to provide an engaging and educational experience for corporate volunteers. AUSMAP is doing brilliant work and their team is so passionate and knowledgeable. I would recommend getting involved in this project as a really tangible contribution towards tackling microplastics and plastic pollution!" Ariahne Thompson Workplace Giving & Corporate Engagement Manager - WWF Australia " Living Ocean is a community ocean conservation group based on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, focusing on citizen science programs. In our collaboration with AUSMAP, we are engaging the local community in an exciting program that raises awareness of one of the greatest environmental threats of our time, which also is one of the least known. At the same time, through AUSMAP, we are supporting a worldwide cohort of scientists studying the microplastics issue. AUSMAP’s ground-breaking research provides data without which the world’s leaders cannot know what remedial action will be most effective to counter what is in fact a terrifying threat to marine and human life. A defining virtue of AUSMAP’s approach, one that makes it unique in the domain of microplastics research worldwide, is its total focus on quality assurance and the reliability of data gathered – going to the validity of the science. Its community training programs and ongoing oversight are remarkable. Its layered strategies, devolving through several levels down to the grassroots, are clearly defined and highly effective. To us, AUSMAP serves as an exemplar citizen science project that we encourage others to follow. I would not like to finish without mentioning the amazing dedication, enthusiasm and helpfulness of the AUSMAP leadership team, which inspires us to greater efforts and without which our microplastics effort could never be successful. Robbi Luscombe-Newman President and Co-Founder - Living Ocean Incorporated "By participating with AUSMAP I have the opportunity for so many conversations with folks that may have no idea that this problem exists. As a person who researches microplastic pollution, it is so important to feel effective and take opportunities to make meaningful change. The greatest change needed is in general social behaviour. I can spend my lifetime cleaning beaches and picking up trash, making changes in my personal behaviours to use less plastic. However, this will not make a big difference. By volunteering with AUSMAP I have a tremendous opportunity to amplify my actions, by sharing my passion for a beautiful, pristine ocean and sustainable choices in lifestyle. Participating in a program that shares so readily with children provides so much opportunity for a groundswell of change. I am very grateful to the AUSMAP team for their work creating this program and look forward to the body of data being created. So that when we do enact change in order to reduce microplastic pollution, we can confirm the merit of our actions." Claire O’Loughlin Owner Ocean Remedy & Volunteer AUSMAP "Within my role within Sydney’s Northern Beaches Council, Coastal Environment Centre (CEC), the AUSMAP program has clearly enabled more students and teachers to participate in STEM programs. Just in 2019, over 350 students from public, catholic and independent high schools, scientifically surveyed ten beaches, they identified and removed over 1170 microplastic particles and over 2000 macro litter items. Each student becomes aware of the presence and impact of plastic pollution on their beach. I’ve observed how this personal knowledge changes attitudes and behaviour. In addition, the teachers overwhelmingly love and appreciate the opportunity for their students to be involved in the AUSMAP program. Two local high schools have even adopted the AUSMAP program and are using it as a springboard into a STEM unit for their whole Year 7 or Year 9 cohort. This has the added benefit of increased, across faculty training within high schools, as Mathematics teachers participate in the scientific field surveys and Geography and Science teachers assist their students in the data graphing and analysis after the field trip. By involving students in this outstanding AUSMAP program, students are then motivated to choose Science and Mathematics electives in Year 11 and pursue a STEM career. The AUSMAP program clearly has had a significant impact this far and is contributing to empowering change in the community. As a specific example, I have assisted an Environment Club from a local high school to adopt and survey a lagoon shoreline over the past three years. As a result of their initial scientific surveys, their site has been identified by AUSMAP as a “microplastic hot spot” and this result has contributed to a grant so that AUSMAP, Council and other stakeholders including the Environment club students, can target and reduce plastic pollution in the catchment of this coastal lagoon." Toni Wilson Senior Educator Coastal Environment Centre - Northern Beaches Council

MICROPLASTICS AROUND AUSTRALIA AUSMAP RESULTS Plastic pollution is now recognised as one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. However, with increasing plastic production, and approximately 12 million metric ton leaking into our oceans annually , plastic pollution is a rapidly growing problem. Over the past decade, there has been significant attention given to macrolitter. However, microplastics (plastics < 5mm) are now considered a greater concern , with scientists calling for them to be listed as a hazardous substance. Of the numerous recognised impacts to wildlife from marine litter, over 70% can be attributed to microplastics , and with their ability to move through the food chain, effects are compounded. Microplastics in Australia In Australia, there is little known on microplastic levels or their impacts - this is where AUSMAP takes part. As part of the global first, nationwide citizen science project , our volunteers have sampled over 350 shorelines across Australia (both coastal and freshwater) - over 7,000,000 microplastics already collected ! Here are some results for selected frequently sampled sites and regions. SOUTH AUSTRALIA South Australia is home to two microplastic hotspots with the highest loads found in Australia. AUSMAP has collected 97 samples across South Australia between 2018 and 2024, with data on microplastic (mp) loads (mp/m2) collected across metropolitan Adelaide, including coastal beaches and extensive sampling around West Lakes, Port River and Barker Wetlands. More regional areas surveyed include the Eyre Peninsula, South East SA, Port Augusta, Whyalla, and Kangaroo Island. To date, 45 samples collected from coastal beaches, including metropolitan beaches such as Henley, Glenelg, Tennyson, Hallett Cove, Port Noarlunga, and Brighton Beach all typically presenting loads that are Very Low to Low loads of microplastics, with an average of 8.3 mp/m2. However, when compared to microplastics identified from estuarine locations, the loads are Extreme, with an average of 98,835 mp/m2, collected from 37 samples across metropolitan Adelaide and regionally. Images taken recently at Barker Inlet showcasing Extreme loads of microplastics The highest microplastic loads nationally, have been identified across northern Adelaide, with Extreme concentrations found around West Lakes and wetlands Port Adelaide. Samples collected at Tiranna Reserve and Blackdragon Beach, West Lakes, have exceeded loads of 35,000 mp/m2 since 2019, measuring Extreme on AUSMAP’s grading scale. As a semi-enclosed estuarine system, the West Lakes accumulate microplastic waste from industrial and urban activities up-catchment. Sampling at seven sites along the Port River showed concentrations ranging from 0 mp/m2 at Club Beach, to over 750,000 mp/m2 at Carp Pond on the edge of the Barker Wetlands - the highest loads of microplastics found nationally. Analysis of these samples showed that they were dominated by industrial pellets and hard fragments, referred to as ‘shards’ - from industrial processing of larger plastic items. These excessive loads indicate significant, and ongoing, mismanagement of plastics factories in the upper catchment areas. Read more about this here. Map of West Lakes, South Australia. Black points indicate very high microplastic loads (> 1000mps/m2). Chart showing the type of microplastic at West Lakes. QUEENSLAND THe coast of queensland During 2019, data collected by our volunteers & those part of the ReefClean program, have found low loads of microplastic along the Queensland coast. We have also conducted rubber crumb research in collaboration with ReefClean to document rubber crumb loss from play areas in the GBR catchment. The highest levels were found in the Burdekin Dry Tropics region near Townsville with 27 mps/m2 - made up of mostly hard plastic fragments and polystyrene foam. Graph illustrating trends of microplastic loads per m2 on average across Qld regions. Error bars are Standard Error of the Mean. The relatively low levels of Queensland are a promising result but more data , particularly around Brisbane and the southeast, is needed to give a more definitive idea of microplastic loads in the state. Map of microplastic loads along Queensland Coast. Green points indicate very low levels (<10mps/m2) and yellow points low levels (10-50mps/m2) THE HIGHEST MICROPLASTIC LOADS IN AUSTRALIA NEW SOUTH WALES Sydney As Sydney is home to the AUSMAP head office & the largest number of citizen scientists involved in the program , we have the greatest number of sites sampled per area. Data shows the variable nature of the microplastics in the region with loads ranging from low to very high , some of which are only relatively short distances apart. These differences are driven by local currents, shore aspects, and physical features. Harbour sites were found to consistently have moderate to high microplastic loads pointing to this catchment as a major source to the nearby coast . Similarly, the Cooks River which flows into Botany Bay was found to have very high microplastic loads near its mouth and would be another major source into the nearshore environment. Microplastic loads collected during sampling in 2019 around Sydney. Manly COve Monthly microplastic data , collected from Manly Cove by our Community Champion Ali, has shown that the levels and types vary not only spatially but also temporally. Numbers spike after certain weather events but remain relatively consistent at moderate to high levels outside of these times. Not only do numbers vary but types of microplastic change over time. A trend of hard plastics dominating the warmer months and polystyrene foams are found more often in cooler months , which may suggest weather and catchment or water-based activities may be influencing factors. Graph showing changes in microplastic amounts at Manly Cove, Sydney over time Graph showing changes in microplastic types as a percentage at Manly Cove, Sydney over time Follow AUSMAP on Instagram

AUSMAP’s ongoing monitoring at Manly Cove, a popular beach in Sydney’s northern beaches, has revealed consistently high levels of microplastic pollution, marking it as one of Australia's significant hotspots. Since mid-2018, AUSMAP built one of the most comprehensive datasets on microplastic pollution in Australia, and potentially worldwide. This data reveals concerning trends that highlight the severity and persistence of microplastic contamination at this site. Manly Cove AUSMAP's longest running microplastic data set. AUSMAP Manly cove 80+ Samples processed since June 2018 700+ Volunteers Engaged 4097 Microplastics per square metre is the highest amount of microplastics found on Manly Cove beach The Manly Cove story AUSMAP’s ongoing monitoring at Manly Cove, a popular beach in Sydney’s northern beaches, has revealed consistently high levels of microplastic pollution, marking it as one of Australia's significant hotspots. Since mid-2018, AUSMAP researchers and community members have collected over 60 samples from Manly Cove, building one of the most comprehensive datasets on microplastic pollution in Australia, and potentially worldwide. This data reveals concerning trends that highlight the severity and persistence of microplastic contamination at this site. The microplastic levels at Manly Cove frequently fall into the “High” (251-1,000 microplastics/m²) or “Very High” (1,001-10,000 microplastics/m²) categories on AUSMAP’s pollution scale, with a peak concentration recorded at 4,097 microplastics/m² in July 2024. This consistently elevated pollution suggests that Manly Cove is experiencing ongoing contamination from plastic debris. Change in microplastic loads at Manly Cove (2018-2024) WHat we find AUSMAP microplastic samples are analysed by classification of the type of microplastics found. Microplastic type identification allows understanding of potential sources of microplastic pollution. AUSMAP defines microplastic types as “Hard Fragments”, “Foam”, “Fibre”, “Pellet”, “Film”, Synthetic Grass” and “other”. The categorisation of such types are determined through a manual, visual identification process. Analysis Hard Fragments Pellets Artificial Grass What are the trends? Manly Cove data break down Hard plastic fragments and polystyrene foam pieces remain the dominant types of microplastics found at Manly Cove, together comprising approximately 80% (~ 8,000 pieces) of the total microplastics identified in 2024. These proportions have remained consistent over previous years, highlighting a persistent and ongoing pollution issue from land-based sources entering Manly Cove and surrounding areas through open stormwater outlets. Plastic industrial resin pellets, or nurdles, have also been found in significant quantities during surveys at Manly Cove, often comprising up to 10% of the recorded microplastics. Resembling fish eggs, nurdles are easily ingested by aquatic animals and their recurring presence highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations and improved practices for handling and transporting these materials. Another concerning trend at Manly Cove is the increased prevalence of artificial grass fragments, which accounted for 2.1% of the microplastics collected in 2024, up from previous years. Artificial turf particles have been identified in nearly every survey this year, likely reflecting the rise in artificial grass installations across Sydney’s urban and suburban areas. These fragments pose emerging environmental challenges, as they degrade into microplastics that may impact aquatic ecosystems and human health. Urgent Action is needed. AUSMAP’s data on Manly Cove exemplifies the wider issue of plastic pollution and underscore the need for targeted actions and policies to address the root causes of microplastic pollution. Once microplastics enter the ocean, they are exceedingly difficult to remove, making prevention at the source the most effective solution. Stronger regulatory protections, coupled with efforts to reduce plastic use and improve waste handling, are essential to protect marine ecosystems and mitigate the long-term impacts of plastic pollution. Manly cove report Understand Manly Coves microplastic problem Report Here Donate here and help us continue the longest running microplastic dataset Our data helps put microplastics on the map, contributing to real-life science and policy change. DONATE HERE Want to know more? Email info@ausmap.org Follow