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Marine plastic pollution undermines the livelihoods and income of fishing communities in Viet Nam
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Ocean plastic isn't just an environmental problem — it's hitting fishing families' wallets hard. Researchers found that fishers in Vietnam lose about $3,400 per boat each year dealing with plastic debris (damaged nets, lost catch, injuries from entanglement), which eats up a quarter of a boat owner's income, with poorer fishing communities hit hardest. This matters because the people who catch much of the seafood we eat are being squeezed financially by pollution, which can threaten the stability and safety of the global seafood supply chain we all rely on.
Abstract Globally, small-scale fishing communities are impacted by plastic debris accumulating in coastal waters. We studied the socioeconomic impact of marine plastic on fishers in the Mekong and Red River Deltas. Using a mixed methods design, we quantified the impacts of marine plastics through socioeconomic structured interviews with nearshore fishers ( n = 199), post-hoc verification interviews ( n = 94) and waste audits of debris in fishing nets ( n = 282). The total cost of plastic pollution was calculated as ~3400 USD vessel -1 year -1 , equivalent to 12% of the annual vessel revenue and 25% of the owner’s income. Fishers also experienced injuries and fatalities when dealing with plastic entanglement incidents at sea. Results highlighted a disproportionate and unequitable higher economic burden faced by lower-income fishers in the Mekong Delta compared to the Red River Delta. Our study found that incentive-based plastic collection at priority locations could reduce pollution while supporting sustainable livelihoods.
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Source data for Figures and Chart in publication:
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This dataset supports a study showing that plastic pollution in Vietnam's oceans is hurting fishing families financially, likely by damaging fish stocks and fishing gear or reducing catch quality. While this research focuses on economic harm rather than direct health effects, it's a reminder that the same plastic waste littering our oceans breaks down into microplastics that can end up in the seafood we eat. Protecting coastal communities from plastic pollution isn't just about their livelihoods—it's connected to the health of the food chain that reaches our dinner plates too.
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This thesis examines how marine plastic litter washing up on beaches affects the daily lives of coastal residents in Vietnam's Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area. It highlights an overlooked social dimension of plastic pollution, showing that communities in one of the world's top plastic-polluting countries bear direct economic and livelihood consequences from ocean litter.
Source data for Figures and Chart in publication: Marine plastic pollution undermines the livelihoods and income of fishing communities in Viet Nam
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Researchers released the source data underlying figures and charts from a study showing that marine plastic pollution measurably undermines the livelihoods and income of fishing communities in Vietnam, supporting reproducibility of the published economic and environmental impact analysis.
Source data for Figures and Chart in publication: Marine plastic pollution undermines the livelihoods and income of fishing communities in Viet Nam
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Researchers compiled and published source data underlying figures from a study quantifying how marine plastic pollution damages the economic livelihoods and income of Vietnamese fishing communities.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.