Recent studies have estimated that approximately eight million tonnes of plastic end up in the world’s oceans every year. This contributes to the deaths of the marine animals that become entangled. Plastic can also find its way into the stomachs of seabirds, sea mammals, fish and other marine life, affecting the entire food chain. The attributes of plastic that make it so attractive as a material, including its durability, are also the attributes that make it so dangerous and long-lived.

CSIRO research has identified that almost three-quarters of the rubbish on Australia’s coastline is plastic, and that it comes from Australian sources. This project aims to support the western rock lobster industry identify where and why plastic is used in the western rock lobster industry and to identify viable environmentally friendly plastic alternatives.