Findings on Pollution in Suva Harbour an Eye Opener
The disclosure of heavy pollution of Suva Harbour is a major concern with respect to its impact on marine life and the environment.
Matakite Maata from the University of the
South Pacific’s School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, has revealed data on the high amount of metals in the harbour. He said most of these heavy metal were absorbed by molluscs such as shellfish and entered the food chain.
It is disturbing that untreated wastewater is being discharged including sewage in Suva Bay.
Many people from the low income areas in and around Suva go fishing for food and collect shellfish for food sources and sell the surplus. They have no idea that these food sources are contaminated and therefore present health risks.
Using this scientific data there should be an advisory or notice put up along the seawall warning people against swimming and fishing. Those who defy the warning should be fined.
Not long ago a notice went up near My Suva Park banning swimming and fishing in a designated area. But people ignored it even though there was a stiff fine for offenders.
But not long after that the notice came down. The exercise was a failure because the implementation phase was non existent.
That seems to be the fate of some of these mental projects including anti-litter laws.
The lack of enforcement is missing. There is no point in having environmental and health laws when they cannot be enforced.
It has been claimed that storm water drains are being used for sewage disposal as the greater Central Business District in Suva does not have proper sewer line.
Derelict ships litter the bottom of the bay
It appears we are just waking up to a major environmental pollution that threatens the health of Suva Bay and people who depend on it for food source and recreation.
If we are serious about keeping our environment clean then remedial action needs to be taken immediately to begin the cleanup.
First, discharge of untreated wastewater must stop as soon as possible. That includes sewage.
There should be a ban on fishing and swimming until scientific tests show that they are safe to resume. We should clear the harbour of derelict ships. They are not only an eysore but a health risk.
Polluters should face heavy penalties. If we fail to take these concrete action, the problem will not go away. environ