Goby Fish

By Sarah Fields

On Da Nang City’s My Khe Beach, there is a giant ‘goby fish’ sculpture where people can throw their trash to avoid it going into the ocean. It’s made from bamboo, coconut leaves, and recycled garbage. The Goby (bong in Vietnamese) is a native fish to Vietnamese folklore. Vietnam is ranked the fourth biggest polluter of oceans in the world.
Because there is so much plastic thrown into the ocean, fish often confuse it for food and eat it. This leads to a whole other host of issues because not only are the animals dying from ingesting these dangerous substances, but the humans who eat seafood are also, in turn, consuming plastic.
The Fish requires to be fed by beachgoers with the plastic waste that they would otherwise leave behind, and pollute the ocean.