Tuna Fishers Collect Thousands Of Kilos Of Plastic In Guayaquil

Ecuadorian tuna and seafood fishermen came together last week for the three-day ‘Fishing for Plastic’ initiative, whereby they collected nearly 20,000 kg of plastic in the Gulf of Guayaquil. The fishers took a boat to mangroves and estuaries in this area to collect the waste, mostly bottles, in a bid to reduce the rampant plastic pollution in the region.

Guillermo Morán, Executive Director of TUNACONS, said that the plastic waste does not come only from Guayaquil, but floats from other parts of the ocean as well. He added that a project to clean it up was the need of the hour. The Ministry of Fisheries took to X to laud the initiative, stating that local authorities, private companies, and NGOs participated in the second edition of the initiative for the conservation of coastal ecosystems. They worked together to reduce marine pollution by collecting single-use plastics while engaging artisanal fishermen through education and active participation to promote clean seas and sustainable fishing. The Municipality of Guayaquil also appreciated the efforts of the participants and took to its social media to share a video of the three-day activity.