The Garbage Flow: Stuck Among the Mangroves

"What people fail to realise is, these rubbish that are being dumped causes a risk not only to people who try and survive out here but also it diminishes the lives of these marine organisms," says 55-year-old Lina Waqa.

About 10 minutes through the mangrove river canal towards Laqere Bridge, Ms Waqa can be seen in her small canoe, fishing with two of her companions.

She says: “Most of us who live nearby depend on these mangroves for food. It’s our source of food that could last us for a day or two.”

What has become an eyesore is the visibility of rubbish trapped in mangroves upstream from Bailey Bridge in Laucala Beach, Suva.

The blame game of civic response as tonnes of rubbish continue to be caught inside these mangrove forests.

Travelling upstream in a fibre-glass boat fitted with a 15-horse-power engine, one’s heart sinks realising that Fiji’s marine life are at risk, within these mangroves.

Many also question a trash net catchment that was installed two years ago near Bailey Bridge by the Department of Environment to filter rubbish.

And to date, these questions remain unanswered as the catchment is no longer there.

Plastic waste and other materials getting caught among the mangroves up the Bailey Bridge river at Laucala Beach, Suva. Photo: Kelera Sovasiga Tuisawau

Another fisherman, who wished to remain anonymous, questioned the monitoring of these breaches from the public who continue to throw rubbish at the Bailey bridge.

“There have been days where private vehicles would stop by the bridge and throw garbage bags,” he said.

“One in particular, we had to shout at them after they disposed of a sack full of pig guts. It’s disgusting. “We already have environmental laws that are strict but it’s a different story when it comes to who is responsible for monitoring those that breach it.”

IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVES FOR CLIMATE ADVOCATES

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, mangroves are vital in mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

An improved understanding of both the scale and drivers of mangrove loss in Fiji can underpin sustainable management strategies and achieve climate change mitigation and adaptation goals.

Pacific climate warrior, Shivendra Michael, is among a handful of advocates in Fiji who uses a stand-up paddle board to collect rubbish along the same mangrove swamp canal.

“We can have as many policies on climate change and laws on illegal dumping of rubbish into waterways, but if there is no one to seriously monitor and take people to task, then all efforts will be useless,” Mr Michael said.

During one of his many rubbish collection trips, Mr Michael was involved with the WOWS Kids Fiji, in partnership with the Suva Stand-up Paddlers (SUP), in its WOWSSUP initiative earlier in May.

The initiative was to paddle more than 1000 kilometres to raise funds for children living with cancer.

Mr Michael was encouraged to take up the challenge with a friend, Abel Lalagavesi, who took the opportunity to collect rubbish while paddling.

“We collected about 80 kilograms of rubbish. One can only do so much, the rest is up to other individuals to take it upon themselves and realise how rubbish has an effect on marine life and people,” Mr Michael said.

He added that research was done by University of the South Pacific (USP) Marine Science Program masters research assistant Andrew Paris on microplastics found in fish and seafood around Fiji.

“This should be a moment of realisation for us in Fiji because despite having a ban on single use plastics, we still are picking up plastics in all sizes from these mangroves and beaches,” he said.

“Research says that 80 per cent of marine pollution are plastics and for that there is a need to change and strengthen policies concerning this like a ban on plastics microbeads to begin with.”

A father to an eight-year-old, Mr Michael said it all should start from home, and we needed to teach our young ones the right way to take care of the environment.

Feedback: kelera.sovasiga@fijisun.com.fj