A world-first citizen science project has revealed the beaches with the highest levels of plastics in Australia, after nearly 800 trained volunteers collected at least three million plastic fragments from over 300 beaches in the longitudinal research project. “This is the most substantial data we have on the scope and impact of microplastics in Australia’s waterways,” leading expert in litter and microplastics and research director of Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP) Scott Wilson said. The data is being fed into an interactive map showing the types and quantities of plastics, allowing visitors to search for their favourite beaches and find ones with low levels of pollution. Around Sydney, Manly Cove and Cook Park along Ramsgate Beach had the highest levels of microplastics, with 4,051 and 1,039 fragments per square meter respectively. Bondi Beach had under 100, whereas Dee Why, Tamarama, and Bronte Beach all fared much better with around 5 …