Waste from Labasa Town has been washing up on the shores of Mali, as reported by local representative Tema Bui. Over the last few weeks, there has been a noticeable increase in rubbish, such as plastic, metals, and other debris, reaching the island.
Bui indicated that the shoreline, which was once celebrated for its cleanliness, has now become cluttered with trash that was not properly disposed of in Labasa Town. During a Wildlife Conservation Society workshop, she highlighted that nearby settlements around mangrove swamps were using these areas as informal dumping grounds.
“This practice exacerbates the pollution issue, with discarded materials choking mangrove roots and posing a threat to local wildlife,” Bui stated.
In response to the situation, Blue Prosperity Fiji strategic advisor Joeli Veitayaki explained that debris can travel from its source due to waves. “While those upstream may initially be shielded from the waste, it ultimately flows downstream,” he noted. “The trash can reach the river mouth, where the tide carries it out to sea, but wind and currents often bring it back to shore, resulting in debris washing up on this island.”
Veitayaki emphasized that public littering is both unnecessary and unacceptable.