The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change conducted a major clean-up campaign across multiple Suva locations as part of Fiji’s lead-up to World Environment Day and World Oceans Day.
The early morning effort was the official start of commemorative activities this week, with officers and volunteers hitting the ground before sunrise.
The clean-up was held at five different sites along the Suva foreshore and the Nukubuco Sandbank.
More than 30 partners joined the initiative, including Outrigger Fiji, Suva SUPers, and youth volunteers from the Pacific Ocean Litter Youth Project (POLYP).
Officers were also seen working with the Uto Ni Yalo Trust to conduct a traditional sail to Nukubuco Sandbank as part of the marine clean-up efforts.
One of the event organisers said rubbish collected on the sandbank was sorted by hand, giving volunteers a firsthand look at the scale of plastic pollution in local waters.
This year’s global themes are #EndingGlobalPlasticPollution for World Environment Day and #SustainingWhatSustainsUs for World Oceans Day.
World Environment Day is tomorrow and World Oceans Day is on Sunday, June 8. These days are celebrated to raise awareness for environmental protection and ocean conservation, respectively.
