Papua New Guinea warns against fishing in New Ireland after mystery deaths of marine life | Papua New Guinea
The Papua New Guinea government has warned communities not to fish from parts of the New Ireland coastline after preliminary tests evidenced the presence of metals in some water samples, after months of residents reporting deaths of marine life in the area.
On May 7, Fisheries Minister Jelta Wong said initial tests by an independent company had detected various metals in water samples taken from affected areas around Kafkaf village and Larairu lagoon on New Ireland, an island in the east of PNG.
“The results indicate the presence of toxic minerals in the marine environment, and further research is ongoing,” Wong said at a press conference.
Concerns first arose in December 2025, when residents on the New Ireland coast began reporting unusual numbers of dead fish washed ashore. Kafkaf and Mangai communities were most affected.
Commercial and subsistence fishing is practiced in New Ireland. Independent environmental organization Ailan Awareness conducted assessments in the region and found at least 11 villages and more than 1,250 people were affected by disease or contaminated food and water.
Local residents said reef fish were found dead in shallow waters, with swollen eyes, damaged skin and discoloration. Within weeks, the number of marine animal deaths rose, alarming communities that rely heavily on the ocean for food and income.
Some residents reported experiencing health problems after swimming or fishing in affected waters. Seawater has been noted to have a strong sulfur-like odor and appear cloudy or discolored during low tide.
Officials warned communities not to consume fish or seafood from affected waters until further testing is completed. It was stated that no conclusion could be reached regarding the source of the metal substances found in the water.
Investigations involving national organisations, independent scientists and international laboratories are ongoing as authorities seek to determine the full extent of the pollution and whether long-term environmental damage has occurred along New Ireland’s east coast.
In January, regional officials declared Kafkaf an environmental hazard and contaminated area following ongoing reports of marine deaths and illnesses among residents.
New Ireland’s governor, Byron Chan, told parliament in March that unexplained fish kills in the state had become a major environmental and public health problem and called on the national government to take urgent action.
The national government was criticized for not acting more quickly and providing immediate aid to affected villages.
Marine conservation advocate John Aini said the slow response by authorities had deprived communities of much-needed help, describing the situation as “utter neglect in our time of crisis”.
Kafkaf community leader Martha Piwas said families had stopped fishing as fears grew about contamination of seafood supplies.
“We suffer because the sea is our supermarket and our garden,” Piwas told local media.
“Mothers can’t feed fish to their children anymore. People are getting sick.”
He said many people in the village depend entirely on fishing for their survival, but they no longer feel they can enter the water safely.
Led by conservationist John Aini, Ailan Awareness conducted a five-day coastal assessment among affected communities in March and documented more than 3,400 dead marine organisms across at least 15 species.
Aini warned at the time that the scale of marine deaths indicated serious ecological degradation affecting reef systems and coastal biodiversity. Residents said communities continue to face food shortages and economic difficulties due to the suspension of fishing activities.
“Communities are afraid because they rely entirely on the ocean for food security and livelihoods,” Aini said.
