A coastal cleanup and awareness campaign aimed at preventing plastic pollution in the sea was organized in Nazirartek, Cox’s Bazar, involving members of marginal fishing families and students. On Saturday, February 8, the initiative, led by GenLab, educated fishers on how plastic and packaged products they use daily pollute the ocean and harm the environment in the long run.
Around 50 fishing families, 25 school students, local fishermen, leaders of the fishing community, teachers, the Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer, and other stakeholders participated in the event. During the cleanup drive, women from fishing families and students collected approximately 80 kg of plastic waste from the coastal area.
At the event, Chief Guest and Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Sujit Roy warned that “the increasing plastic pollution in the sea will drastically reduce fish populations. Moreover, microplastics entering fish bodies will eventually reach humans, leading to deadly diseases such as cancer. It is crucial to raise awareness and properly manage plastic waste.”
Fishermen leader Abul Kashem emphasized the importance of responsible waste disposal, stating, “We, as fishers, must ensure that we do not discard plastic food and drink packaging into the sea. Instead, we should bring them back to shore and dispose of them properly. Household waste should also be discarded in designated areas.”
At the end of the program, fishing families, students, and other participants took a climate pledge, committing to work toward environmental conservation and addressing climate change.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report/Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
