Page 10 - IB FEB 2020

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PACIFIC FIGHTING THE PLASTIC

PLAGUE

By Samantha Magick evidence of ingested plastic across four South Pacific
locations. Fish eat plastic and we eat fish.
Visit the Plastic Adrift website and you can place a little In the Pacific, plastic bag bans are most often linked to the
rubber duck on a spot of your choice and see how plastic values of environmental (particularly ocean) stewardship,
pollution spreads. Place your duck just off the east coast resource management and climate change concerns. For
of Australia, and the simulation shows marine pollution example, Federated States of Micronesia President, David
spreading like a rash over Pacific island seas and territories. Panuelo told his country, “In order for the [FSM]’s Climate
Plastic Adrift is a project of Imperial College (London), Change pleas to be taken seriously by the global community…
Utrecht University (Netherlands) and the Australian Research We must lead by example. This new ban on disposable plastic,
Council’s Centre of Excellence for Climate System Science. which allows the importation of reusable and recycled plastic,
It shows in an engaging way how ocean currents drive plastic shows that it is possible to be environmentally conscious while
and other waste across the globe, some 8 - 10 million tonnes still retaining sensitivity to the conveniences appreciated by
per year according to the United Nations. citizens and the business community.”
Of course you don’t need a fancy computer simulation to Acting Director of Tuvalu’s Ministry of Local Government
show you how much of a problem plastic ocean waste is. and Agriculture, Walter Pulogo says: “Tuvalu is a country that
Pacific seafarers, coastal dwellers, fishers and divers can see relies heavily on the ocean; therefore, management of marine
it clearly for themselves. litter is crucial. We get our food from the ocean and it is
Despite heightened awareness of the problems of managing also the major income earner, so managing marine litter will
plastic waste, global plastic production continues to grow. greatly improve the economy of our country.”
The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) Last October, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy
estimates production will grow 33-36 per cent over the next for the Ocean, Fijian Peter Thomson told the Pacific Ocean
five years. Alliance Meeting how proud he was at an earlier meeting as
After climate change, plastic waste management is “Minister after [Pacific] Minister announced the single-use
arguably one of the region’s most visible and topical plastic bans put in place in their countries and/or being now
environmental issues. Unregulated and disposed of carelessly, the process of legislation.”
plastic litters beaches and clogs drains and rivers, creating While legislation regulating or banning single use items
mosquito-friendly (and therefore dengue and malaria- have gained momentum across the region (see sidebar on
friendly) environments. In some dumps it contributes to the page 13), the bans have not been without challenges. In
leaching of damaging elements into the ocean, lagoons and Fiji, while environment ministry officials report there has
other waterways. A recent New Zealand report, Rethinking been almost full compliance from businesses from day one
Plastics, found that 33 of 34 commercial fish species had (January 1, 2020), many plastic bags, especially those used

10 Islands Business, February 2020