Home / Environment / Fiji Alarmed as Microplastics Found in 74% of Local Fish
Fiji Alarmed as Microplastics Found in 74% of Local Fish
3 Nov
Summary
- Microplastics found in 74% of fish tested in Fiji
- Fiji Fisheries Minister calls findings "deeply concerning"
- Plastic pollution drifts in from as far as South Africa and Mexico
As of November 3rd, 2025, a concerning new study has revealed the extent of microplastic pollution in Fiji's marine ecosystem. The research, published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin journal, found that microplastics were present in 74% of the 184 fish sampled across 21 different species.
Fiji's Fisheries and Forestry Minister, Alitia Bainivalu, described the findings as "deeply concerning." The minister emphasized the need to enforce "very stringent litter laws" to raise awareness and curb the issue of plastic waste being ingested by marine life.
The study highlights a broader "knowledge gap" regarding plastic pollution and its effects on Fiji's 330-island archipelago. A 2024 TIME investigation indicated that a significant portion of the plastic waste in Fiji's waters originates from as far away as South Africa and Mexico, drifting in with ocean currents.
This is a critical concern, as around 60% of Fijians live near the coast and rely on the ocean for their livelihoods. The pervasive presence of microplastics in the local fish population threatens both the environment and the communities that depend on it.
