Marine Plastic Pollution Threatens Fishermen’s Income in Vietnam
Vietnam’s fishing communities are suffering severe economic consequences due to marine plastic pollution. A study conducted in the Mekong and Red River deltas reveals that each fishing boat loses an average of $3,400 per year because of plastic waste, accounting for 12% of the vessel’s annual revenue and 25% of the owner’s personal income. These costs mainly stem from time lost sorting waste, reduced fishing efficiency, equipment repairs, and accidents caused by plastic entanglement in propellers.
Fishermen in the Mekong Delta are particularly affected, with losses reaching 18% of their annual income, compared to 10% for those in the Red River Delta. This difference is explained by lower incomes and more precarious working conditions in the Mekong, where boats are often older and less efficient. Additionally, this region is located at the mouth of some of the world’s most polluted rivers, which worsens exposure to waste.
Plastic-related accidents are also a major issue. Nearly half of the fishermen surveyed reported propeller entanglement incidents, sometimes leading to serious injuries or even deaths. Abandoned nets and ropes at sea can block propellers, forcing fishermen to intervene manually—a dangerous operation.
On average, fishermen catch 15 kilograms of waste per net cast, with 17% of it being plastic. Bags, bottles, and abandoned fishing nets are among the most common waste items. This waste is mainly concentrated near coasts and river mouths, especially during the rainy season, when land-based waste is swept out to sea.
To combat this scourge, a solution proposed by the fishermen themselves is to implement an incentive-based collection system. They would be willing to bring plastic waste ashore in exchange for financial compensation, estimated at an average of $0.16 per kilogram. Such a measure could reduce pollution while supporting fishermen’s livelihoods. Priority areas for these programs would be river mouths and coastal zones, where waste concentration is highest.
Economic inequalities also play a key role. The poorest communities, often located in highly polluted regions, bear a heavier burden. They have fewer resources to manage waste and are more dependent on marine ecosystems, which are already weakened by pollution. Thus, plastic pollution exacerbates existing inequalities, disproportionately affecting those who contribute the least to it.
This study shows that fishermen have precise knowledge of the areas and periods where plastic waste is most abundant. Their local expertise could complement scientific data to identify pollution hotspots and optimize cleanup efforts. By combining this knowledge with waste transport models, it would be possible to more effectively target anti-pollution actions.
The proposed solutions include not only incentive-based collection programs but also awareness campaigns about the real costs of plastic pollution and the benefits of recycling. A comprehensive approach, combining improved waste management infrastructure and behavioral change, would be necessary to sustainably mitigate the impacts on coastal communities.
Website References
Scientific Reference
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-026-03567-z
Title: Marine plastic pollution undermines the livelihoods and income of fishing communities in Viet Nam
Journal: Communications Earth & Environment
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Authors: Duc Nguyen; Phan Phuong Thanh; Heidi L. Burdett; Inna Yaneva-Toraman; Zhiling Liao; Qingping Zou; Trinh Quang Tu; Le Trung Dung; Le Thi Thu Huong; Ryan Pereira; Thomas Wagner; Huong Thi Thuy Ngo; Michel J. Kaiser