Work is underway in the Marshall Islands capital Majuro to try and improve sewage disposal.
Garbage mingled with brown algae is strewn along ocean side beaches in Majuro, the capital of the Marshall Islands. Photo: RNZI / Giff Johnson
A recent assessment by the Marshall Islands Environmental Protection Authority found 9 out of 10 ocean and lagoon locations were badly polluted, often with disease-causing bacteria associated with human and animal waste.
The ocean pollution is caused by a failing, rusted outlet pipe which pumps out raw sewage onto the reef.
Our correspondent in the Marshalls, Giff Johnson, said work is underway to find a solution to this issue but overcoming pollution in the lagoon is a whole different matter.
"That's going to require finding engagement with trying to find a way to get people involved to, essentially, stop polluting their own lagoon, and to deal with ships that may be polluting the lagoon as well," he said.
