Case study #4 – Merlin Entertainments

How the Sustainable Destination Partnership protects marine life

Tackling plastic pollution in Sydney Harbour is a complex issue spearheaded by the Sustainable Destination Partnership which is dedicated to safeguarding life in the water. Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, operated by Merlin Entertainments, champions a vision of thriving oceans. It works to ease litter's impact on marine ecosystems, particularly in Sydney Harbour, one of the world's largest and most diverse marine ecosystems.

A founding member of the partnership, the aquarium addresses both ends of the single-use plastics problem. Firstly, it minimises the use of disposable plastics within its premises, and secondly, prevents plastic pollution from infiltrating marine environments.

Working towards these goals, the aquarium initially partnered with Seabin to install a floating tub that filters and collects plastics, visibly reducing marine pollution.

"Our collaboration with the Seabin project has evolved," community, social and environment impact manager at Merlin Entertainments ANZ Ashley Hayes said.

"We began with a focus on our immediate vicinity, only to realise that the bulk of collected debris originated from stormwater. Our strategy pivoted towards taking advantage of data and technology to address the underlying causes of marine pollution."

Each year, the project:

• filters roughly 100 full-sized swimming pools of water
• captures more than 1 tonne of waste
• retrieves over 800,000 plastic items and over 500,000 microplastics.

You can witness the impact of these efforts at behind-the-scenes tours of the aquarium.

The partnership shows the power of collaboration in addressing environmental challenges. Through shared dedication and concerted action, these partners are paving the way for a sustainable future where oceans thrive and marine life flourishes.