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Anchovies found to eat plastic waste: Ministry
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The undersecretary for maritime sovereignty, Arif Havas Oegroseno. (tempo.co/Arnold Simanjuntak)
T
he Office of the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister revealed that anchovies eat plastic waste in the ocean, which could result in illness for those who consume the fish on a daily basis.
“The Indonesian Institute of Sciences conducted a study that concluded there are some types of plastic that decompose to 0.2 millimeters in size. The 0.2 mm plastics are then consumed by anchovies,” said the undersecretary for maritime sovereignty Arif Havas Oegroseno on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
The study was about managing marine waste involving a collaboration between the ministry, the Jakarta administration, the World Bank and the governments of Norway and Denmark.
“For Jakarta, we are assessing plastics found in the city’s rivers,” Arif said.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said he supported the collaboration and was ready to make the rivers throughout the city cleaner.
“Jakarta will continue this program and take the initiative to make our rivers cleaner. We assure you that it can be executed,” Anies said.
Earlier, whales in Norway were found dead with their stomachs full of plastics. With marine debris considered an international problem, that national government will collaborate with the local administration to deal with the issue. (wnd)
