The Madang Lagoon
The Madang Lagoon is one of the most bio diverse places in the world and supports the livelihood of 40, 000 people. As many as 1000 different species of reef fish and 700 types of corals (75% of known coral species) have been recorded in its waters. In comparison, The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is home to 400 species of corals and 1500 species of reef fish. The development of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) is taking place in the north of the lagoon, despite the implementation of four wildlife management areas in its waters to preserve it extraordinary biodiversity.
A Treasure Cove…at risk of pollution on an extraordinary scale
Read how scientists are raising the alarm bell:
"The Species found in threatened PNG Lagoon". Read the article (March 2013)
Listen to an ABC Radio story on how mine waste and canneries threaten Madang Lagoon "treasure trove"(March 2013) Read more.
Listen to a story on how new species have recently been discovered. (January 2013)
100 Million tons of mine waste dumped directly into the sea.
In the South of Madang, a Chinese and Australian mining company (Ramu Nickel) has been allowed to dump 100 million tons of mine waste directly into the sea. It is done using a practice called "submarine tailings disposal," "deep sea tailings placement" or more simply "ocean dumping," which would be banned in China and Australia. Locals who tried the fight the way the waste would be dumped into their seas saw their hopes crushed in December 2011, when the Supreme Court refused an appeal for an application for an indefinite injunction preventing this method.
The PNG National Fisheries Authority have long been worried that the waste might overtime contaminate the same tuna fish which could be used for export.
The risk of contaminating Tuna
Read how a team of French scientists, who are working on the findings of a biodiversity expedition around Madang, is highliting concerns for the future of PNG’s tuna industry if the toxins in the tailings start to enter the food chain. (June 2013). Photo on left: Photograph taken by the French scientists showing impact of the waste dumping.
PMIZ Port might be used to export Chromite
Read how the PMIZ warf might be used for the dangerous export of Chromite, mined by Ramu Nickel (March 2013). While waiting for the PMIZ port to be built, plans are to export the mineral through the town port. Further Read (May 2013)