Implemented for the first time in Da Nang, the Goby project not only transmits a message of environmental protection, but also encourages people to bring plastic debris to feed Goby.
The idea was initiated by Sarah Field, a foreign English teacher in Da Nang, with the message “Feed Goby plastic waste, not the ocean”. After being presented, it has been supported for implementation by Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beaches.
Accordingly, Goby is a huge, transparent fish crafted mainly from environmentally friendly materials, such as bamboo and palm leaves. In order to implement the project, it took the group of volunteers roughly two months with a funding of VND7 million (US$301) from non-State sources. This is the latest idea deployed by the local tourism sector and sea-loving volunteers aiming to call for protection of the environment.
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Local people and tourists show excitement with “waste-eating” Goby at My Khe Beach.
Nguyen Duc Vu, head of the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beaches, said that Goby will stay at the beach for 2-3 months to see the response of locals and visitors. After recording the efficiency of the project as well as the issues that need addressing, the management board and the group of volunteers will implement the installation of other products, such as tortoise or whale, on beaches across the city.
On average, Da Nang beaches attract from 5,000 to 7,000 visitors per day, even up to around 10,000 during the festival occasion. Such large crowds of people will entail a certain amount of waste discharged into the environment, mainly plastic debris and nylon bags, which are yet to be classified, making it difficult for the disposal process.
Given that fact, the Goby project is not only an active response to the current “plastic waste reduction” movement, but also creates eagerness and encourages people to sort post-consumer waste and enhance the use of nature-friendly materials.
