Plastic waste, primarily from fishing vessels and other countries, has invaded the shores of Easter Island, contaminating local marine life and disrupting the food chain.
Jorge Vega and Ivan Alvarado report for Reuters.
In short:
- Easter Island receives 50 times more plastic than the Chilean coast due to its location in the South Pacific Gyre.
- Microplastics are contaminating local fauna, affecting the island’s marine food chain and the health of its residents.
- Local leaders are pushing for global agreements to reduce plastic waste, particularly highlighting pollution from Chile.
Key quote:
"It's affecting our lives, it's affecting our food, the blue fish that live in our ocean and we depend on for protein."
— Pedro Edmunds, mayor of Rapa Nui.
Why this matters:
Microplastics are now invading the island’s marine life, creeping into the food chain, and threatening the health of local communities. Local leaders are rallying for global agreements to tackle this growing crisis, particularly pointing to Chile’s role in the pollution. It's an island story, but the message is global: our waste doesn’t just disappear—it’s circling the planet, threatening ecosystems and human health in places you'd least expect. Read more: US needs to support a strong global agreement to curb plastic pollution.
