Clean Ocean Foundation

Description

Clean Ocean Foundation is an Australian environmental organisation working to stop ocean pollution and restore the health of the oceans.

It campaigns to close all ocean outfalls and wastewater discharge into the sea, and to stop new outfalls being built. It lobbies governments, water authorities and utilities, and runs public and media campaigns to raise awareness of the impact of ocean outfalls on marine environments. It also promotes recycled water, water conservation and environmentally friendly products, including education aimed at young people.

The Foundation was founded in the early 2000s by surfers concerned about pollution at Mornington Peninsula beaches. Its campaigning led the Victorian state government to commit funding to upgrade a treatment plant discharging near Gunnamatta beach, and it successfully lobbied for Australia’s recreational water guidelines to be raised. It works with First Nations advisors and university researchers, including on a national database of ocean outfalls.