Dumped e-scooters have been pulled from the River Derwent, alongside thousands of destructive seastars, during a major clean-up beneath Hobart’s waterfront.
Fifty volunteers removed more than 2,200 invasive Northern Pacific seastars in just 90 minutes under the Port of Hobart on Sunday for an underwater Clean Up Australia event.
Divers hauled up 120 kilograms of the pest species from Waterman’s Dock, along with shopping trolleys, bikes, cafe furniture, ladders and other debris.
Organisers said the haul highlights both the scale of the marine pest problem and the growing amount of rubbish being dumped in the harbour.
TasPorts partnered with the University of Tasmania Dive Club and Invasive Seastar Clean Up Tasmania for the underwater clean up.
Volunteers used snorkelling, scuba diving and free diving techniques to protect the marine environment from the invasive species, which threaten native wildlife.
The Northern Pacific seastar is one of Australia’s most damaging marine pests, capable of eating shellfish, crabs and other native species at an alarming rate.
Even cameraman Damian Brockie managed to fill bags and haul larger items to the surface while filming the operation.
TasPorts said the partnership approach was essential for ongoing marine conservation efforts around the port.
