Celebrating ‘hope’ for Byron coastline on World Oceans Day

Published on 07 June 2023

Coinciding with 2023 World Oceans Day on 8 June, the Byron/Ballina coastline has been recognised as an international ‘Mission Blue Hope Spot’.

The Mission Blue Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that creates awareness of the need to preserve protected marine areas, has named the Byron Ballina coast as one of 153 hope spots in the world.

Zoe White, Council’s Resource Recovery Education and Compliance Officer, said World Oceans Day is a reminder to everyone in the Byron Shire of the need to preserve and protect the coastal area.

“Hope spots are identified as being critical to the health of the ocean and we can all play our small parts in protecting our amazing ocean and coastlines,” Ms White said.

“There are 1,000 marine species that live in our salty backyard including the threatened grey nurse shark, along with the humpback whales that are on their annual migration,” she said.

“Byron’s shoreline also provides important roosting and foraging habitat for shorebirds and is a known breeding ground for several threatened species.

“World Ocean Day is the opportunity to highlight our magnificent coastline and raise awareness, share ideas and encourage community involvement is a range of different initiatives to protect our local marine environment,” Ms White said.

As an organisation, at a high level, Council is preparing long-term strategic plans for the effective management of the Byron Shire coastline and estuaries.

Council has also implemented award-winning campaigns to reduce litter entering the marine environment such as Butt Free Byron Shire, Take 3 for the Sea Byron and more recently Bring it Back Bruns and Source to Sea.

“I am hoping that on Thursday, 8 June 2023, people stop for a moment and acknowledge the amazing ocean on our doorstep,” Ms White said.

“Don’t walk past rubbish – pick it up and put it in the bin because there’s a good chance that it could end up with our turtles, dolphins, fish, and sea birds in the ocean.

“Thanks to Alice Forrest and Elizabeth Hawkins for their efforts to get the Byron Ballina coast recognised as a ‘hope spot’,” Ms White said.

For more information go to the Byron Hope Spot website.

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