Hilsa threatened by microplastics

The hilsa is a gourmet's delight for its unique taste, distinctive flavour and high nutritional value. It is not just a great delicacy but a symbol of national pride, feted as the national fish. Bangladesh takes pride as the world's largest hilsa-producing country, with this aquatic treasure largely being exclusive to the region's rivers and coastal waters. But how would you feel if this most sought-after and beloved fish species falls victim to pollution? Deeply shocked and dismayed? Well, that's precisely what has happened. Researchers from the University of Dhaka and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology found microplastic particles in hilsa caught at river mouths in Bangladesh. Moreover, they also detected harmful heavy metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic in the fish. This poses not only a serious existential threat to the hilsa population but also a grave risk to human health and national food security.

Led by Professor Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury of Dhaka University, the study found plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres - known as microplastics - lodged in the intestines, liver, and even muscle tissues of the fish. These particles originate from common plastic waste such as bags, bottles, synthetic clothing fibres, tyre residue, and even cosmetics. Once they enter rivers and oceans, fish ingest them either directly or through the food chain.

Contamination of hilsa lends credence to the United Nation's warning that without urgent action microplastics will infiltrate  every ecosystem on Earth, including the human body. Currently, the world produces approximately 350 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, and an estimated 12 million tonnes of this plastic ends up in the ocean. And the UN warns that without immediate action, the amount of plastic entering the ocean annually could reach 37 million metric tonnes by 2040. So, apart from climate change, plastic pollution is considered the worst form of environmental threat globally. Considering the gravity of the problem, this year the World Environment Day was observed with the theme of "Ending Plastic Pollution."

In Bangladesh, plastic pollution is growing fast driven by factors such as population growth, urbanisation, and changes in consumer behaviour. According to World Bank study in 2021, Bangladesh's annual per capita plastic consumption in urban areas has tripled from 3.0 kg in 2005 to 9.0 kg in 2020. The rising use of plastic contributes to increased plastic waste, including single-use plastics (SUPs), which easily break down into microplastics and are often dumped into drains, canals, and rivers. This not only blocks drainage systems and causes flooding or waterlogging, but also poses a significant risk to aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.

To tackle the growing plastic pollution, polythene and polypropylene bags were banned over two decades ago. However, the ban was never strictly enforced. Stakeholders have often cited the lack of alternatives, public unawareness, black-market activity, and weak regulatory enforcement as key reasons for the failure to ban single-use plastic. The interim government has made a renewed attempt to impose a ban on polythene bags in supermarkets from October 1, 2024, and set a phased target to eliminate other single-use plastics. While the government's initiative is commendable, enforcement remains a critical challenge. Laws alone cannot solve the problem. What is urgently needed is the large-scale production and marketing of alternative jute and paper bags, along with efforts to bring about behavioural change among the public.

In this regard, BRAC University's ambitious initiative to eliminate single-use plastic is not only worth-mentioning but highly commendable. The university aims to transform itself into a zero-waste, plastic-free campus through enhanced recycling programmes, the elimination of single-use plastics, and the promotion of sustainable alternatives. This proactive step by an educational institution serves as a powerful example. Other universities, as well as various public and private institutions, would do well to follow suit. They can promote a plastic-free work environment by banning single-use plastics and replacing them with sustainable alternatives such as glass, metal, or paper products. Chief Adviser's office has already adopted such practice, setting a positive example for others to follow.

However, the solution does not solely rest on individual or institutional goodwill. The government should effect a paradigm shift in its approach to waste management, recycling infrastructure, and the production of sustainable alternatives. Institutional capacity in these areas will significantly influence the broader economy, investor confidence, and consumer habits.

At present, only a small fraction of plastic waste is properly disposed of or recycled owing to inadequate collection systems, poor waste segregation, and insufficient recycling facilities. Experts are of the view that segregation at the source must be made mandatory, particularly in rapidly growing urban centres like Dhaka and Chattogram. Smart recycling hubs with integrated systems for collection, sorting, and reuse should be developed. Here, government policy, private innovation, and civic participation must go hand in hand.

Then, the financial institutions have a critical role to play to help accelerate the transition towards environmental sustainability. According to Bangladesh Bank, banks and financial institutions disbursed approximately Tk 1.17 trillion in sustainable financing during the April-June quarter of 2024, which is significantly more than what was disbursed in the previous quarter. If such financing is strategically channelled into eco-friendly, technology-driven, and plastic-alternative ventures, it could yield enormous social and environmental benefits. Here it is noteworthy that Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) provides easy access to finance for small entrepreneurs engaged in producing biodegradable products. Bangladesh could implement similar incentives through the SME Foundation and SME units of commercial banks.

In a word, individuals, families, communities, businesses, and governments all have a role to play in the fight against pollution. Failure to act will allow it to continue choking our rivers, endangering marine life, and threatening public health, where even the treasured national symbols, like the hilsa, become a casualty.

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