Every year in May and June, waste and debris are washed by the tide from the East Sea to the Mui Ne gulf.
This year, the amount of waste was substantial, made up of a variety of items – largely broken fishing nets, plastic bottles, and plastic bags – which are buried in sand along beaches stretching over a kilometre, making it hard to collect.
Kristy Marland, an Australian member of the group who has lived in Mui Ne for six years, said that she is worried about the pollution conditions in Mui Ne. She and her friends often organise cleaning activities on the beach with the hope of raising public awareness of the necessity of keeping the sea clean.
According to locals, many groups have exerted efforts to collect rubbish, especially in areas that waste is concentrated. However, these attempts are not enough against the rising tide of careless rubbish-dumping that is seen across the nation.
Although campaigns to clean the beach are temporary solutions, they have significantly contributed to raising the awareness of tourism facilities and the community in protecting the sea environment and not releasing waste into the sea.
