Reporting Marine Pollution

Table of contents

Do YOU know how?

plastic garbage floating on water surface showing 2024 05 27 01 44 54 utc

As the holiday season is coming to a close, it has brought more vessels on the water, busy times and often people onboard being complacent.

Marina pollution is a detrimental factor to our industry and been reported as one of the five main drivers of the current biodiversity crisis which affects both commercial and recreational boat owners!

We need to tackle pollution at its source – the vessels and it is all our responsibility!

Reporting Marine Pollution

Australia implements a range of standards and regulations to protect the marine environment from pollution. If you see an incident, under these regulations you must report it.

Reporting marine pollution helps AMSA to respond quickly to an incident to minimise damage to the environment.

How to Report?

If you witness a vessel or seafarer polluting, or see pollution in the marine environment that you think might be from a vessel, you can make a general marine pollution report by one of the following actions:

You can also report incidents to the local port or maritime authority.

When reporting a marine pollution incident to AMSA, or to the local port or maritime authority, please provide details about the incident, including:

  • when and where the incident occurred
  • the name of the vessel
  • type and extent of pollution
  • other witnesses or nearby vessels
  • any other information you think may be important.

If possible, take photographs or video images of the pollution, vessel or persons involved.

What to report as general marine pollution

The following general marine pollution incidents should be reported:

  • Spills or leaks of any quantity of oil. If oil can be seen on the water then it is probably an illegal discharge. Oil includes waste oil, fuel oil, sludge, lube oil, and other additives.
  • Any discharge from a vessel involving packaged goods or washings of chemical or dry cargoes.
  • Any garbage disposed of into the sea. This includes any plastics, paper, bottles, metal, incinerator ask, fishing gear, and other general waste.
  • Visible floating solids or water discolouration from sewage effluent discharged from vessels.

Importance of reporting marine pollution

Reporting marine pollution incidents helps AMSA protect the marine environment and assists us all to continue to thrive in the marine industry.


Shorlink’s Recommendation

While no one likes reporting issues we need to remember that it is our marine environment therefore its our responsibility to protect it for all users!

We strongly recommend reporting pollution and those people responsible for it. Take a couple of minutes out of your busy schedule to report pollution of any kind so as the impact on the environment can be minimised as much as possible.


Tip

If you wonder whether you should report or not…. Do it!

And report to authorities as soon as possible to ensure not only your recall of information is clearer but also action can be taken quickly to minimise damage to our environment. Early reporting of marine pollution helps response and enforcement agencies minimise environmental effects and improves investigation and prosecution success. It also helps target education and compliance efforts.

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