Coffs Harbour litter transformed into art that can help protect our waterways
Have you ever wondered where the rubbish OzFish pulls out of our waterways ends up? Between 2023 and 2024, OzFish and our amazing volunteers removed 13 tonnes of debris from waterways to help make fish habitats healthier.
Wherever possible, OzFish recycles the removed litter using initiatives like our Tackle Loop bins that recycle old fishing gear into new items or spent oyster shells into reefs via our Shellfish Revolution project. Some of it goes to landfills; sometimes, it becomes something beautiful.
In Coffs Harbour, OzFish and artists turned the trash collected from three OzFish Coffs Harbour Creek (Buluunggal) Clean-ups into a powerful art exhibition that told a deeper story about protecting our waterways and fish habitats.
Cultural heritage meets environmental action
Across the course of 8 months, while working with OzFish’s Sacred Waters: Buluunggal Creek Clean-Up project, Gumbaynggirr artist Josie Rose Flanders transformed discarded rubbish into intricate artwork for her exhibition, Bower Bird.
Launched at Yarrawarra Culture Centre in December and running until the 2nd of February 2025, the exhibit celebrated the resilience of Country and community while spotlighting the ongoing battle against waterway pollution.
Josie and a group of dedicated women, led by master weaver Dee Murphy, turned discarded marine debris into a striking display of how pollution harms our oceans.
Using ghost net weaving, a practice rooted in Indigenous culture, they transformed abandoned fishing nets and waste into a story that connects people to the sea. This project highlighted the damage caused by marine pollution and brought together the community and conservation while honouring traditional knowledge and storytelling.
Trash to treasure
One of the artworks on display was Terry the Turtle, crafted in OzFish colours by OzFish Project Officer Alacia Cockbain. Terry was made from discarded ghost nets, crab traps, fishing line, and old mooring ropes – debris once harmful to marine life.
OzFish Project Officer Alacia Cockbain said, “He’s unique and raw, but his character definitely taps into the issue of rubbish and ghost traps. He is a story of resilience, a tribute to our waterways, and a call to action for environmental stewardship.”
“Through his woven form, Terry highlights the devastating impact of marine debris while showcasing the potential to turn harm into hope, reminding us that even discarded materials can inspire meaningful change.”
Protecting Country through art
For many people, waterways are sacred systems that sustain their culture and environment.
This project honours that connection and takes real steps to heal Country. OzFish’s clean-up efforts didn’t just improve water quality – they created an opportunity to blend environmental stewardship, cultural heritage, and creativity. The Bower Bird exhibition showed the power of community-led action and how efforts to clean up waterways can lead to both meaningful change and art.
The next time you hear about an OzFish clean-up project, remember that it’s not just about removing litter, habitat restoration, community engagement and improving recreational fishing grounds. Sometimes, it’s about transforming waste into something beautiful that may inspire other people to care a little bit more about the precious waterways that sustain us all and can lead to healthier fish – and better fishing.
Get Involved
Read more about OzFish’s projects that tackle litter, or partner to restore cultural fishing places and spirit. If you want to be kept in the loop about upcoming volunteer opportunities, become an OzFish member today.
The Sacred Waters Bulluungal Creek Clean-Up was made possible thanks to the support from Josie Rose Atkinson Flanders, Mathew Flanders, Coffs Harbour Local Aboriginal Land Council, Coffs Harbour City Council, Arts Mid North Coast, Coffs Harbour Landcare and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.