{"brandSlug":"","componentsResourceTypes":["teq/components/editorial/editorial-hero-banner","teq/components/corp/card-carousel","teq/components/editorial/editorial-description","wcm/foundation/components/responsivegrid","teq/components/spacer","nt:unstructured","teq/components/corp/navigation/header-menu","teq/components/navigation/footer-menu","teq/components/corporate-page","teq/components/editorial/editorial-card-carousel"],"htmlPageItems":[],"templateName":"news-page-corp","designPath":"/libs/settings/wcm/designs/default","cssClassNames":"corporate-page page basicpage","lastModifiedDate":1697173192043,"language":"en","title":"Introducing Libby Edge: Founder/Director of Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc. ",":items":{"root":{"columnClassNames":{"header_menu_copy":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","footer_menu":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","responsivegrid":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12"},"gridClassNames":"aem-Grid aem-Grid--12 aem-Grid--default--12","columnCount":12,":items":{"header_menu_copy":{"variation":"white","teqLogo":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/logos/corp_dark teal.svg","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"teqLogoWhite":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/logos/corp_white.svg","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"searchResultsPage":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media","backText":"Back","cancelText":"Cancel","suggestedText":"Suggested","popularSearchesText":"Popular Searches","searchForText":"Search for","menuItems":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry","target":"_self"},"title":"Industry","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"title":"Who We Are","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are","target":""},"title":"Who we are","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/careers","target":""},"title":"Careers","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/contact-us","target":""},"title":"Contact us","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/annual-reports","target":""},"title":"Annual report","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/strategic-plans","target":""},"title":"Strategic plans","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/corporate-governance","target":""},"title":"Corporate governance","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/portfolio-partners","target":""},"title":"Portfolio partners","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"What We Do","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/marketing","target":""},"title":"Marketing","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/queensland-events","target":""},"title":"Events","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/experience-development","target":""},"title":"Experience Development","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/cruise_indigenous_nature_tourism","target":""},"title":"Sector Development","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/stakeholder-engagement","target":""},"title":"Stakeholder engagement","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Industry Resources","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources","target":""},"title":"Industry resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/best-of-queensland-experience-program","target":""},"title":"Best of Queensland Experiences Program","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/international-resources","target":""},"title":"International resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/marketing-and-social-media","target":""},"title":"Marketing and social media","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/sustainable-tourism","target":""},"title":"Sustainable Tourism","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/cruise_indigenous_nature_tourism/accessible-tourism","target":""},"title":"Accessible Tourism","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/great-barrier-reef-resources","target":""},"title":"Great Barrier Reef resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Research & Insights","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights","target":""},"title":"All TEQ research & insights","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights/consumer-insights","target":""},"title":"Consumer insights","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights/industry-performance","target":""},"title":"Industry performance","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights/special-reports","target":""},"title":"Special reports","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/research-and-insights/tourism-data-explorer","target":""},"title":"Tourism data explorer","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Travel alerts & crisis ","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/crisis-management/advice-for-travellers","target":""},"title":"Advice for travellers","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/crisis-management/recovery-resources","target":""},"title":"Resources for businesses","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Partner with TEQ","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/partner-with-teq","target":""},"title":"Partner with TEQ","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/partner-with-teq/about-imate","target":""},"title":"About IMATE","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/partner-with-teq/about-atdw","target":""},"title":"About ATDW","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]}]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade","target":"_self"},"title":"Trade","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"title":"Place to see","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see","target":""},"title":"All places to see","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-brisbane","target":""},"title":"Visit Brisbane","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-bundaberg","target":""},"title":"Visit Bundaberg","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-cairns-and-great-barrier-reef","target":""},"title":"Visit Cairns and Great Barrier Reef","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-capricorn","target":""},"title":"Visit Capricorn","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-fraser-coast","target":""},"title":"Visit Fraser Coast","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-gladstone","target":""},"title":"Visit Gladstone","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-gold-coast","target":""},"title":"Visit Gold Coast","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-mackay","target":""},"title":"Visit Mackay","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-outback-queensland","target":""},"title":"Visit Outback Queensland","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-southern-queensland-country","target":""},"title":"Visit Queensland Country","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-sunshine-coast","target":""},"title":"Visit Sunshine Coast","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-townsville","target":""},"title":"Visit Townsville","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/places-to-see/visit-the-whitsundays","target":""},"title":"Visit The Whitsundays","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Experiences","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences","target":""},"title":"All Queensland experiences","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences/queensland-adventure-and-discovery","target":""},"title":"Queensland adventure & discovery","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences/lifestyle-people-and-culture","target":""},"title":"Lifestyle people & culture","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences/queensland-nature-and-wildlife","target":""},"title":"Queensland nature & wildlife","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/queensland-experiences/queensland-reefs-islands-and-beaches","target":""},"title":"Queensland reefs, islands & beaches","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Itineraries","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries","target":""},"title":"All Queensland Itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/3-day-queensland-itineraries","target":""},"title":"3-day Queensland itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/5-day-queensland-itineraries","target":""},"title":"5-day Queensland itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/7-day-queensland-itineraries","target":""},"title":"7-day Queensland itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/destination-itineraries","target":""},"title":"Destination itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/itineraries/experience-itineraries","target":""},"title":"Experience Itineraries","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"title":"Trade tools & resources","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/trade-tools-and-resources","target":""},"title":"All trade tools & resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/trade-tools-and-resources/sales-tools","target":""},"title":"Sales tools","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/trade-tools-and-resources/travel-information","target":""},"title":"Travel information","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/trade/trade-and-industry-events","target":""},"title":"Trade & industry events","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/what-we-do/marketing/current-opportunities/international-trade-missions","target":""},"title":"International Trade Events","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media","target":"_self"},"title":"News and Media","hasChildren":false,"isActive":true,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"title":"Media resources","hasChildren":true,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources","target":""},"title":"All media resources","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/story-ideas","target":""},"title":"Story ideas","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/fact-sheets","target":""},"title":"Fact sheets","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/character-profiles","target":""},"title":"Character profiles","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/press-releases","target":""},"title":"Press releases","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/content-creators","target":""},"title":"Meet our creators","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]},{"link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/queensland-news","target":""},"title":"Corporate News","hasChildren":false,"isActive":false,"isMainHeading":false,"children":[]}]}],"popularSearchTerms":["Great Barrier Reef","Annual Reports","Strategies","News"],"bookmarksLink":{"href":null,"target":null,"title":""},":type":"teq/components/corp/navigation/header-menu"},"responsivegrid":{"columnClassNames":{"editorial_descriptio_1576055727":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none aem-GridColumn--phone--12 aem-GridColumn--offset--phone--0 aem-GridColumn--phone--none","editorial_descriptio_1380740830":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none aem-GridColumn--phone--12 aem-GridColumn--offset--phone--0 aem-GridColumn--phone--none","editorial_descriptio_1790412890":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none aem-GridColumn--phone--12 aem-GridColumn--offset--phone--0 aem-GridColumn--phone--none","editorial_hero_banne":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--10 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--1 aem-GridColumn--default--none aem-GridColumn--phone--12 aem-GridColumn--offset--phone--0 aem-GridColumn--phone--none","spacer_copy":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","editorial_descriptio_454719157":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none aem-GridColumn--phone--12 aem-GridColumn--offset--phone--0 aem-GridColumn--phone--none","spacer_1963982735":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","spacer_copy_copy":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","spacer_1679915333":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","spacer_1558440557":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","card_carousel_copy_c_483513290":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","spacer":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12","editorial_descriptio_1526558352":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--8 aem-GridColumn--offset--default--2 aem-GridColumn--default--none aem-GridColumn--phone--12 aem-GridColumn--offset--phone--0 aem-GridColumn--phone--none","editorial_card_carou":"aem-GridColumn aem-GridColumn--default--12"},"gridClassNames":"aem-Grid aem-Grid--12 aem-Grid--default--12 aem-Grid--phone--12","columnCount":12,":items":{"spacer_1963982735":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"medium",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"editorial_hero_banne":{"title":"Introducing Libby Edge: Founder of Eco Barge Clean Seas Inc ","layoutVariation":"standardWidth","tag":{"colour":"#365ABD","text":"Characters"},"breadcrumbItems":[],"gallery":{"mediaCollection":[{"mediaType":"image","mediaProps":{"fileFormat":"","sku":"","src":"/content/dam/teq/corporate/images/news-and-media/character-profiles/WYS_BIO_Libby Edge Missy Released from Barge.jpg","alt":"A group of happy travellers on a large grey barge have docked on the edge of a beach. One person is close by a sea turtle that is about to enter the water.","title":null,"link":null,"mobileSrc":"","attribution":null,"quality":60},"mediaPropsSlide":null}]},":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-hero-banner"},"spacer_copy_copy":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"xxsmall",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"editorial_descriptio_1576055727":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAIRLIE BEACH: Reef Crusader, Commercial Skipper and Mum-of-two, Libby Edge, is one ordinary Queenslander making an extraordinary difference on her patch of The Great Barrier Reef.  This is her story… \u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EQueenslander Libby Edge is waging war on plastic in and around The Whitsundays, and she’s not alone.  Her environmental epiphany came back in 2009, shortly after she watched a 60 Minutes documentary about ocean litter around the Hawaiian Islands and was relieved that her backyard – The Whitsundays – wasn’t in the same boat… or so she thought.  \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETwo weeks later she found herself on a remote beach that was littered with plastic.  For Libby, this discovery was a life-changing moment and one that has since seen her marshal a small army of like-minded souls to make a difference.  \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAnd thus, \u003Ca href=\"https://ecobargecleanseas.org.au/\"\u003EEco Barge Clean Seas Inc.\u003C/a\u003E was born with a mandate to remove flotsam and jetsam to reduce its impacts, improve the look of the beaches and waterways, save the lives of marine animals, and from a long-term perspective, to educate and reduce land-based litter and littering behaviour in the tropical north.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESince that July, Libby and her team of volunteers have removed some 207,720kg of waste from the Whitsunday region*. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAs Libby says: “Marine litter is one of the most threatening, but also the most solvable pollution issue currently affecting the world’s ocean and waterways. “\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EMost tourists flock to the sheltered and pristine islands of The Whitsundays, but there are 36 bays along the south eastern coastlines that are exposed to prevailing southeast trade winds, which wash up ocean junk on their shores.  \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAfter eleven years in the business, Libby knows which beaches will suffer after the big winds and acts accordingly, often with international backpackers volunteering to see the reef and learn a thing or two about how to protect it.  \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFrom humble beginnings, Libby and her team have significantly expanded their operations with expeditions to the southern Whitsunday islands and beyond - Blacksmith Island, Goldsmith Island, Keyser Island, Linne Island, Thomas Island and Tinsmith Island.  Other key environmental initiatives include:\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"editorial_descriptio_1380740830":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhitsunday Turtle Rescue Centre\u003C/b\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003EEco Barge together with Fauna Rescue Whitsundays launched a centre to ensure that any sick and injured marine turtles were given the care they need. A related program sees local volunteers reporting on turtle stranding events in the Whitsunday region.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"editorial_descriptio_454719157":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https://ecobargecleanseas.org.au/other-projects/recycling/\"\u003EOcean Trash Recycle Shack\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cb\u003EClean streets and creeks program\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAccording to Libby, the most effective way to reduce the impact of litter is to prevent it entering the environment. With this program, land-based litter is removed in a series of clean ups – 24 to date - that target rubbish found on local streets, creeks and foreshore areas to prevent it washing and blowing into the marine environment.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"editorial_descriptio_1526558352":{"text":"\u003Ch2\u003EMackay Coastal Clean Up\u003C/h2\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis program is aimed at local businesses, families and individuals and essentially coordinates the removal of marine debris from beaches in the Mackay region. The sixth successful clean-up was held in May 2015 and has seen around 25,000 kilograms of litter removed from beaches.\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThese days, a typical working week sees Libby seeking out sponsors, reporting and monitoring… and then thirty to forty times a year she takes volunteers and two crew onboard the “Eco Barge” to the Whitsunday Island’s bays and beaches and collects the plastic and debris that is thrown and/or blown away. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EShe’d go more often if she had the sponsorship. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe impact of this environmental work has been far-reaching: Libby has been a state finalist in the Australian of the Year awards; has received funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation, Reef Catchments and ‘SunSuper Dreams For A Better World’ grant; and she is an Eco Ambassador teaching school children about the reef and appointing Reef Guardians to spread the conservation message.  \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EFrom a tourism sustainability perspective, Libby has also partnered with local businesses, like Cruise Whitsundays – the largest marine tourism operator in the region – to continue her good work both with the marine clean-up and rescuing stranded marine turtles.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIt is work that’s helping her patch of the Great Barrier Reef flourish, but one that comes with an even greater personal reward - Libby describes whale breaches, turtles popping their heads to say hello and manta rays surfacing near the barge. \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E“Each trip we are approached by either turtles or whales, it’s almost like they are coming up to the barge to thank us for helping them.”\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWatch a video about Libby \u003Ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J25ZPNHOy0g&t=80s\"\u003Ehere\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"spacer_copy":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"xxsmall",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"editorial_descriptio_1790412890":{"text":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E/Ends\u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEditor’s notes:  \u003C/b\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cul\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003EIt is estimated that approximately 6.4 million tons of litter ends up in the world's oceans each year, and that over 13,000 pieces of plastic litter are floating within every square kilometre of ocean.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003EOur everyday reliance on plastic comes at a global cost.  In Australia alone, we produce about 1 million tonnes of plastic litter, which can take anywhere between 15 and 1000 years to break down.  This plastic litter makes up between 60-80% of all marine debris.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003EAccording to Endangered Species International, the ocean is now the world’s largest plastics dump with garbage areas twice the size of Texas forming as confetti-like pieces of plastic accumulate.  However, not all litter is deliberate, in fact 47% is wind borne escaping from landfills along with other flotsam and jetsam that can wash up on beaches.  Nevertheless, plastic doesn’t discriminate and each year tens of thousands of marine animals, sea turtles and birds around the world suffer from plastic-related injuries – suffocation, drowning, strangulation and starvation.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003EEco Barge Clean Seas Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation with a passionate and dedicated committee, 55 members and a register of more than 1700 volunteers.\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003Cli\u003EInterviews can be arranged on request to \u003Ca href=\"mailto:libby@ecobargecleanseas.org.au\"\u003Elibby@ecobargecleanseas.org.au\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\r\n\u003C/ul\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWord Count: 828\u003Cbr\u003E\r\n\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAuthor: Tourism and Events Queensland \u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EUp to date as at: May 2021\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThis Character Profile is supplied courtesy of Tourism and Events Queensland. For more information, please go to \u003Ca href=\"http://www.queensland.com/\"\u003Ewww.queensland.com\u003C/a\u003E and for images, please visit \u003Ca href=\"http://www.visuals.queensland.com/\"\u003Ewww.visuals.queensland.com\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","readMoreHeight":0,"richText":true,":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-description"},"spacer":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"xxsmall",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"spacer_1679915333":{"spacerType":"line","paddingSize":"medium",":type":"teq/components/spacer"},"card_carousel_copy_c_483513290":{"title":"Discover more character profiles","type":"page","componentID":"card-carousel_1216171307","cardCount":20,"classification":"/content/dam/teq/content-fragments/public-classifications/corporate/news-and-media/character-profiles","width":"12 column","cta":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/character-profiles","label":"Select to see more","target":"_self"},":type":"teq/components/corp/card-carousel"},"editorial_card_carou":{"maxNumber":20,"region":"","town":"","title":"Looking for more character stories? ","componentID":"editorial-card-carousel_589477293","areaName":[],"notch":false,"goodToGo":{"src":"","alt":"","link":null,"quality":0.0},"publicClassificationPathKey":"character-profiles","stamp":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/logos/BOQE-2026-Stamp_Teal.png","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"button":{"label":"View More","target":null},":type":"teq/components/editorial/editorial-card-carousel"},"spacer_1558440557":{"spacerType":"whitespace","paddingSize":"medium",":type":"teq/components/spacer"}},":itemsOrder":["spacer_1963982735","editorial_hero_banne","spacer_copy_copy","editorial_descriptio_1576055727","editorial_descriptio_1380740830","editorial_descriptio_454719157","editorial_descriptio_1526558352","spacer_copy","editorial_descriptio_1790412890","spacer","spacer_1679915333","card_carousel_copy_c_483513290","editorial_card_carou","spacer_1558440557"],":type":"wcm/foundation/components/responsivegrid"},"footer_menu":{"acknowledge":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETourism and Events Queensland acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country and we recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respect to Elders past and present, and we value and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in all that we do.\u003C/i\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\r\n","teqLogo":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/logos/corp_white.svg","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"richText":true,"menuItemsOne":[{"title":"Contact us","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/contact-us","target":"_self"}},{"title":"Disclaimer and privacy","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/corporate-governance/disclaimer-and-privacy","target":"_self"}},{"title":"Right to information","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/corporate-governance/right-to-information","target":"_self"}},{"title":"Annual reports","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/who-we-are/annual-reports","target":"_self"}}],"menuItemsTwo":[{"title":"Need a holiday? Go to Queensland.com","link":{"href":"https://www.queensland.com/au/en/home","target":"_blank"}},{"title":"Visitor information centre portal","link":{"href":"https://teq.queensland.com/au/en/industry/industry-resources/visitor-information-centre-portal","target":"_blank"}},{"title":"ATDW online login","link":{"href":"http://www.atdw-online.com.au/","target":"_blank"}}],"socialItems":[{"link":{"href":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCecKHzBnmZVm23JDW7jaH2g","target":"_blank"},"icon":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/footer-logos/icon-youtube.svg","alt":"Youtube Queensland","link":null,"quality":0.0}},{"link":{"href":"https://www.linkedin.com/company/23580/","target":"_blank"},"icon":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/footer-logos/icon-linkedin51.png","alt":"Linkedin Tourism and Events Queensland","link":null,"quality":0.0}}],"qldGovLogo":{"src":"/content/dam/teq/consumer/global/footer-logos/logo-queensland-gov.png","alt":null,"link":null,"quality":0.0},"copyright":"Tourism & Events Queensland ©",":type":"teq/components/navigation/footer-menu"}},":itemsOrder":["header_menu_copy","responsivegrid","footer_menu"],":type":"wcm/foundation/components/responsivegrid"}},":itemsOrder":["root"],":path":"/content/corp/au/en/news-and-media/media-resources/character-profiles/introducing-libby-edge-founder-director-of-eco-barge-clean-seas",":hierarchyType":"page",":type":"teq/components/corporate-page"}