Marine debris is severely impacting environments and wildlife in Northern Australia, including the culturally significant sea turtle. This project addresses the plastic problem in North East Arnhem Land through a co-designed educational outreach program with the Yolŋu People, highlighting the turtle as a species affected by marine debris. Collaborating with Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation and Yirralka Rangers, the project repurposes marine plastics into useful items for ranger groups and the community, while simultaneously preventing further degradation into microplastics.
This presentation will share key outcomes from the Toys for Turtles initiative, the establishment of recycling facilities, and insights from school incursions in remote communities. Additionally, findings from ongoing photo point monitoring, community-based surveys, and semi-structured interviews with rangers provide valuable perspectives on marine debris and its management. By integrating scientific and Indigenous knowledge systems, the project not only contributes to environmental protection but also enhances cultural adaptive capacity. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of participatory approaches in tackling marine pollution while delivering tangible benefits to both ecosystems and communities.