CSIRO Research

Project Title:
Global plastic pollution survey in Vietnam 2018-2019
Location:
 Coastal Areas in Vietnam
Period:
 24 months (2017 – 2019)

Marine debris especially is plastic pollution has been identified as a significant risk to biodiversity, economies, human health, fisheries management, tourism, and invasive species transport. Most marine debris, with estimates up to 80% or more, comes from land-based sources. Surveying litter along coastal areas is an important and low-cost way to build a dataset that can enable long-term assessment and monitoring in this,  to understand where, why marine debris, especially waste plastic discharged into the marine environment instead of just coastal areas.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) is undertaking project of the world’s largest marine pollution survey, working with more than 20 countries across the globe to help them assess and it is input for develop planning and solution to reduce the amount of litter entering the oceans. The research project would provide hard numbers on the amount of litter entering the ocean by using real data collected on coastlines and cities across the globe. In Vietnam, CSIRO in partnership with Centre for Supporting Green development (GreenHub) to conduct the survey and capacity building for partners in local and students on methods of the research as the foundation for a marine debris monitoring program.

Objective: 

  • The project is using field sampling to measure, and mathematical modeling to estimate the distribution and movement of plastic waste near urban centers, along waterways, on the coastline, and in the ocean.  

Outputs:

  • The project designing robust sampling plans tailored for Vietnam. These data will comprise a comprehensive dataset of plastic on land, along rivers, at the coastal interface, and in the ocean for major coastal cities around the world. We will use these data with statistical models to produce maps that highlight the plumes of plastic emerging from urban centers and nearby areas. The results from the research will then estimate the amount of plastic from the plumes that are lost to the open ocean or redeposited back to land. 

Local: 

Covering the coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Thai Binh and nearby cities Bac Ninh, Ha Noi. 

Journeys: 

Phase 1: (2018-2019): Result from Global ocean waste survey program 2018:  support by 02 international experts from Australia; 80 research point in provinces; 27 samples of seawater have been collected; 30 students, volunteers take part in on 14 days work 1st. 

Activities:

  • Design robust sampling plans tailored for Vietnam, conduct a training course for investigators and carry on the plastic waste census to create a dataset of plastics on land, along rivers, at the coastal interface, and in the ocean for major coastal cities around the world.
  • Produce maps that highlight the plumes of plastic emerging from urban centers and nearby areas. The results from the research will then estimate the amount of plastic from the plumes that are lost to the open ocean or redeposited back to land.
  • The results will be used to engage with industry regarding best-practices as well as can be served as a basis for advocacy to drive social pressure for investment in infrastructure and regulation for waste handling.