Floating trash net installed at Bailey Bridge
For the first time, the Department of Environment will be able to capture waste from rivers and creeks before it ends up in the ocean.
The captured trash will be audited on a daily basis.
Yesterday Fiji’s first floating trash net was installed close to Bailey Bridge, Samabula River in Suva.
More are expected to throughout the country.
Every day at 4pm, department staff will pull up the net, remove the litter, and do an audit.
The Ocean Trash Audit Programme was launched by Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum yesterday on World Oceans Day.
He said it was vital to have raw data in order to have a holistic approach regarding the environment and the ocean system.
Minister for Waterways and Environment Mahendra Reddy said the audit would enable the ministry to sharpen its policies.
Bailey Bridge was selected after the Department observed the amount of waster coming down the river.
“We are calling on everyone dumping into our rivers and streams to stop it right away. We will take action against anyone who is found to be breaching our environmental laws,” Mr Reddy said. be installed