Plastic pollution is a current problem that affects our daily lives, and remote places like Union Island are not exempt from its effects. After spending a couple of weeks on the island, it is clearly evident that plastic pollution is a major issue for the landscape, plenty of beaches, roads, and fields are riddled with pollutants like plastic bottles, bags, and food containers. I even found some plastic waste on the bottom of the ocean during some of our dives, which is unfortunate because it can harm the coral reef ecosystem. As a visitor, it is really hard to avoid plastic waste, considering the remote location of the island and the lack of access to some plastic-free resources available in our home country. We had to struggle with plastic waste during our stay during almost every meal: breakfast was delivered wrapped in plastic film, lunch was usually served in plastic containers. The struggle to keep a short visit plastic-free is real, especially in a location like Union, but some efforts can be made to prevent the overuse of plastic. Besides water safety, boiling our own water was a great alternative to save time and money while reducing our plastic consumption. Plastic also makes the island unappealing, especially for scientists like us who understand the effects of this type of pollution on the bigger picture. While receiving a talk from a representative of the Flora and Fauna International organization, it was sad to hear that cleaning up the island or trying to reduce plastic pollution is not a priority because of the number of challenges that Union is currently facing. Being such a small island, the import of products is necessary to meet the needs of the population and its visitors. That is why, as science enthusiasts, we have the responsibility to explain the importance of reducing plastic pollution to the locals, and also to try to come up with alternatives that would work better in the context in which we live right now. I am positive that this new generation of scientists will find a way of promoting the change that is needed in the present, one plastic bottle at a time!
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AuthorsThe authors of this blog are students enrolled in Tropical Marine Ecology and Conservation, field courses run in the Caribbean by the University of South Florida. During these courses, students learn scientific diving techniques over a 10-14 day period and carry out research and monitoring of coral reefs at various sites. Many of these courses are done in partnership with local environmental organizations, like the Union Island Environmental Alliance and the Soufriere Marine Management Association. In this blog, students will document their activities and how they relate to course material. Archives
June 2023
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