Scuba divers have collected nearly 11 metric tons of garbage from the seabed and coral reefs off the shore of Con Dao Island in Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, southern Vietnam over the past month, according to the Con Dao National Park.

The garbage had been blanketing the seabed and coral reefs off Bay Canh, Cau, Ba, and Tre Lon Islets, Dam Tre and Con Son Bays, as well as Chim Chim Cape. 

Enterprises and other units have also collected nearly 950 cubic meters of waste onshore on Ba and Bay Canh Islets, in Dam Tre Bay, and at Ong Cau and Dat Tham Beaches.

The majority of the collected trash was non-biodegradable such as ropes, torn fishing nets, plastic bottles, plastic bags, empty beer cans, and Styrofoam boxes.

Fishing nets measuring dozens of meters long each were found on Con Dao’s reefs.

Scuba divers used scissors to cut the nets into smaller pieces in order to remove them from the reefs and waters.

According to the Con Dao National Park, fishermen were primarily to blame for the garbage.

The national park asked local authorities and relevant agencies to support education initiatives aimed at reducing commercial fishing waste in the ocean. 

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