A TasPorts Community Grant has supported the efforts of the Invasive Starfish Clean Up, a Tasmanian volunteer group, which conducts regular cleanups across the Derwent Estuary to remove the invasive Northern Pacific Seastar.
Posted
23 March 2026
The Group plays a key role in coordinating removal activities but also in raising community awareness about the threats the invasive seastar poses to native species, such as the endangered spotted handfish.
Volunteers snorkel, scuba dive and support data collection, including counting and weighing seastars to quantify removal efforts.
All collected material is carefully inspected to ensure native species are safely returned to the water.
These activities provide an accessible way for the community to learn about local marine ecosystems while directly contributing to conservation outcomes.
TasPorts Manager Environment and Sustainability, Susan McLeod, said the project is a strong example of community-led action making a measurable environmental impact.
“Protecting the health of the Derwent is something the whole community can contribute to.
“The dedication of the Invasive Starfish Clean Up volunteers is impressive, and TasPorts is proud to support practical initiatives that help improve our local marine health.”
The TasPorts Community Grant funded new catch bags, restocking of the group’s first aid kit, refreshments for volunteers and fuel costs associated with transporting seastars for disposal.
Recently, TasPorts hosted the volunteer group for an underwater Clean Up Australia Day event at Waterman’s Dock, where in just 1.5 hours, volunteer divers removed 2,226 Northern Pacific seastars—weighing over 120 kg.
Program Coordinator Keith Thomas-Wurth said the support made a tangible difference to the group’s capacity to carry out the event.
“Having the right equipment and resources means we can work more safely and efficiently.
“The catch bags and first aid supplies funded by TasPorts were used during the Clean Up Australia Day event as well as other dive events, and the fuel support helped us responsibly dispose of what we collected.
“It’s fantastic to see organisations like TasPorts getting behind local conservation efforts.”
With strong community involvement and ongoing volunteer commitment, the Invasive Starfish Clean Up initiative continues to play a role in protecting the Derwent’s unique marine environment.