Plastics plague Fiji waters
MICROPLASTIC (MP) concentration in Laucala Bay waters is one of the highest in Fiji, followed by Nakavu and the Suva Harbour.
This, according to a survey conducted by Andrew Paris, a Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) program funded Master of Science scholarship recipient at the University of the South Pacific.
He said this indicated that MPs were prevalent in Fiji waters and in seafood caught from these waters, posing a risk to people whose primary diet was fish.
Mr Paris said other studies had found that a consistent source of MPs into the Suva inshore environment emanated from the Kinoya waste water treatment plant.
“According to our studies, the main classifications of MPs were from fibres followed by fragments then films,” he said.
“MP are tiny pieces of invisible plastics floating in the waters less than 5 millimetres in size.
“It is understood these microfibres originate during laundry washing of synthetic clothes which causes its separations from materials.”
Mr Paris said preliminary results of the study showed that Kiobo and Makogai islands in the Lomaiviti Group were found to have the least abundance of MPs.
“In comparison to these sites, there is an elevated prevalence of MPs in Rakiraki and Nakavu coastal waters.
“Considering the importance of seafood and fish in the diet of Pacific Islanders, the risk posed is a cause for concern in the South Pacific.”
Mr Paris said the time to act and address the issue was now. He added a complete ban of plastics was an ideal solution to the problem.
Also speaking during the PEUMP project virtual live event yesterday, USP vice-chancellor Prof Pal Ahluwalia said such research enabled marine focused staff, students and programs to substantially contribute to sustainable health of marine resources.
The USP is one of the key implementing partners of the overall PEUMP program, which is funded by the European Union and the government of Sweden.