Mongabay · Climate & nature

Plastic pollution costs Vietnamese fishers thousands annually, but they can be part of the solution

A study in Vietnam reveals the significant economic toll of plastic pollution on small-scale fishers, while also highlighting their potential role in addressing the crisis.

Coastal plastic pollution costs small-scale fishers in Vietnam an average of $3,421 per vessel annually due to lost fishing time, reduced catch efficiency, and damaged gear. This represents a 10-25% reduction in annual income, with lower-income fishers in the Mekong Delta being the most affected.

Fishers are increasingly intensifying their efforts, requiring 20-25 hauls for a profit compared to 6-7 previously, due to overexploited fish stocks and plastic pollution.

The study suggests that a "fishing for litter" scheme, where fishers are paid modest incentives to return plastic bycatch to shore, could cost approximately $60 per vessel per year.

Plastic waste interferes with vessel safety, and fishers reported serious injuries or fatalities among crewmembers attempting to untangle propellers from debris.

The Mekong Delta faces a greater economic burden from plastic pollution due to the confluence of two highly polluted river estuaries and plastic debris flowing along the coast.

Researchers recommend policymakers target cleanup interventions in the Mekong Delta, acknowledging that marginalized communities bear disproportionate harms despite contributing least to the problem.

Implementing "fishing for litter" programs requires government coordination, adequate port facilities, waste management infrastructure, and incentives for fishers to participate. Future research aims to develop community-based upcycling businesses to create self-sustaining funding for these initiatives.

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