About 1.2 tonnes of rubbish has been removed from the area's waterways, estuaries and foreshores as part of an annual clean up undertaken in large part by the Port's oyster farmers.
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About 40 farmers, staff from NSW Department of Primary Industries - Fisheries, Hunter Local Land Services and OceanWatch took part in this year's clean up, which had a focus on Cromarty Bay, North Arm Cove and Corrie Island.
Among the rubbish collected was a full roller door and 143 thongs.
"We're local people, we love where we work, and we want to do our bit to help keep our fantastic waterway in top condition - just like our oysters," Dean Cole from Cole Bros Oysters in Karuah said.
"This is the chance to bring industry together across NSW to look after our estuaries. The health of the estuary means everything to us - without a healthy waterway, we wouldn't be here."
Port Stephens oyster farmers initiated a day-long mass clean up of the area in 2017 and have continued every year since.
The initiative has grown and this year, led by OceanWatch Australia, was rolled out to other oyster farming communities.
"Because of the success of the Port Stephens oyster farmers clean-up the last couple of years, I pitched the idea at the NSW oyster conference in August, that we try and do something similar in other oyster producing estuaries throughout NSW. Farmers jumped at the suggestion and we launched the Tide to Tip clean-up program," Andy Meyers from OceanWatch Australia said.
At the end of February, 240 people from across Australia volunteered to take part in Tide to the Tip. Seventeen estuaries and seven waterways were targeted. Volunteers collected a total of 12 tonnes of rubbish.
