YK Poudel
A striking installation featuring a large brown trout made quite a buzz at the ‘Plastic: Waste and Resources Expo’ drawing the attention of over 620 participants.
Dubbed the ‘depressed fish’, the eye-catching display, placed at the entrance to the Expo, aimed to spotlight the dire consequences of microplastic pollution on aquatic life in Bhutan’s rivers.
Designed and crafted by Environmental Management Programme students of Royal Thimphu College (RTC) in partnership with the Bhutan Ecological Society, the model was constructed over the course of a few weeks using metal, mesh fencing, and decorated with tapes and paints.
One of the team members, Sangay Choden, said that the exhibit quickly captured public interest, educating hundreds about the impact of plastic pollution within two-days. “Our model illustrates the issue of plastic waste and its contribution to the bio-magnification of microplastics in river systems.”
The display features five compartments for various types of plastics—polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene, and polypropylene—to emphasise the need for proper waste segregation at the source.
She said that several teachers were interested to replicate a similar model to advocate the impact of plastic on aquatic life and the entire ecosystem.
“We come here with three important Call to Actions: proper segregation of waste, plastic alternatives and policy advocacy,” she said. “Segregation at the source, community involvement, reduction of the plastic waste, innovation, strict regulations and education are some of the interventions we call for.”
Despite the lack of direct engagement from officials and policymakers, the team believes their model has significant advocacy potential. They suggest that placing it in Changyul Park could further amplify its message.
A focal person of the project and a lecturer at RTC, Tshewang Dorji, said that the model’s primary goal is to raise public awareness about the detrimental effects of plastic pollution on freshwater ecosystems and native fish species. “In Bhutan fish species especially the snow trout, brown trout and golden mahseer are vulnerable.”
Research has shown that fish across various trophic levels in Bhutan are ingesting plastics, he said, mistaking them for food. “This exposure to microplastics leads to increased mortality rates, reduced reproductive success, altered feeding habits, and overall stress among fish populations.”
The phenomenon of biomagnification, where toxins in microplastics accumulate up the food chain, poses a significant threat to human health as well.
Globally, plastic pollution is reaching alarming levels, with over 700 marine species, including various fish, ingesting plastic. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, for instance, contains an estimated 1.8 trillion plastic pieces, with 35 percent of the region’s fish species consuming microplastics as part of their diet.