Plasma Project

The PLASMA project (Pollution aux microplastiques du lagon de Mayotte) is a multidisciplinary project that began in 2022. It is funded by the Mayotte National Marine Park and aims to gain a better understanding of the state of microplastic pollution in what can be considered one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world. Indeed, the Mayotte lagoon, known for its exceptional biodiversity, is currently facing major threats from human pressure and overpopulation, and the quantity of these micropollutants and their effects on the environment (fauna, marine flora, coral, etc.) need to be assessed. This project is underpinned by a key question. Where do these microplastics come from? Do they come from the local practices of local people? Or do they come from far away, transported by marine currents and accumulated in the lagoon by the particular hydrodynamic circulation of channel lagoons?Modelling work has shown the existence of zones of accumulation and, conversely, zones of dispersion. In addition, a participatory science initiative has been launched to better understand the origin of these microplastics and to raise awareness of the consequences of their presence, first in river water and then in the lagoon. Pupils from Mayotte's secondary schools became budding researchers, sampling (and counting) microplastics in the river near their school, and carrying out ethnographic surveys of the lagoon.