October 3, 2026 — Magnetic Island, Queensland, Australia*

On a bright spring morning on Magnetic Island, off the coast of Townsville in North Queensland, a group of volunteers gathered at the shoreline — not for a swim, but with gloves, buckets, and a shared mission: to make the beach a safer place for the sea turtles who call these waters home.

On October 3, SOJOS partnered with the **Sea Turtle Foundation** to host a community beach clean-up on Magnetic Island, combining hands-on conservation action with education about sea turtle protection. By the end of the day, the team had collected **15 kilograms of debris** from the beach — 15 kilograms of plastic, fishing line, and other waste that will never have the chance to harm a turtle.

Magnetic Island is more than a postcard-perfect getaway. Its bays — including Geoffrey Bay and Nelly Bay — are important habitats for green sea turtles, and it is home to MINT (Magnetic Island Network for Turtles), a dedicated volunteer group that rescues and rehabilitates sick and injured turtles in the region.

For a species that has survived millions of years of natural change, today's biggest threats are human-made: marine debris, plastic pollution, boat strikes, and habitat loss. Every piece of plastic removed from a beach is one less hazard in the water — one less bag mistaken for a jellyfish, one less fragment of fishing line entangling a flipper.

That is exactly why SOJOS chose to team up with the Sea Turtle Foundation. Since 2001, the Foundation has been the only Australia-wide non-profit organisation dedicated solely to protecting sea turtles, working through research, education, advocacy, and on-the-ground action — including beach clean-ups ahead of nesting season.

The day brought together a diverse crew of volunteers:

• MINT volunteers, who shared their first-hand experience rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles around Magnetic Island
• Marine science students from the local university, who helped identify and sort the collected debris
• Local residents and families, who turned out in force to look after the beaches in their own backyard

For many volunteers, the most memorable moment wasn't the pile of rubbish at the end of the day; it was learning that simple actions — cutting up plastic rings, choosing reusable items, joining a local clean-up — directly help turtles survive.

Fifteen kilograms may sound modest, but on a single stretch of beach, it represents dozens of dangerous items removed from an ecosystem where every turtle counts. All six sea turtle species found in Australian waters are currently classified as Vulnerable or Endangered.

Inspired to do your part? You don't have to fly to Magnetic Island to make a difference:

1. Join or organise a local beach or river clean-up — most marine debris starts its journey on land
2. Cut the loop — snip plastic rings and dispose of fishing line safely before recycling
3. Reduce single-use plastic — bring your own bottle, bag, and straw
4. Support the Sea Turtle Foundation — donations and volunteer support fund rescue, rehabilitation, research, and education programs across Australia (Support Sea Turtle Foundation | Protect Sea Turtles in Australia)
5. Report stranded or injured turtles — in North Queensland, contact MINT or the Sea Turtle Foundation

Q: How does SOJOS support ocean conservation and sea turtle protection?

A: SOJOS partners with organizations like Australia's Sea Turtle Foundation to host community beach clean-ups—such as clearing marine debris at Magnetic Island—and funds education, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts for vulnerable sea turtles.

Q: What are SOJOS Ocean Collection sunglasses made of?

A: SOJOS Ocean Collection frames are made from non-toxic, BPA-free recycled plastics and abandoned fishing nets, giving ocean plastic waste a second life without sacrificing durability or style.

Q: Do SOJOS Ocean Collection sunglasses have UV protection?

A: Yes, all SOJOS Ocean Collection sunglasses feature polarized UV400 lenses that provide 100% protection from glare and harmful UVA/UVB rays.