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Goby the “only” fish who loves to eat plastic… is not alone!

4 min read

Inspiring People
Source: Carmen van Zyl

When we posted about a trash can for plastic bottles named “Goby”, our followers sent in pictures of similar projects they had spotted on their travels.

The “Finding Goby” story: update

BrightVibes recently brought you a story about a fish named ‘Goby’ who loves to eat plastic trash, in the hope that seeing the idea would inspire others to create similar projects on beaches everywhere. Well, our sharp-eyed readers had already spotted such projects while on their travels and kindly gave us permission to share the photos with you.

The sculpture was spotted on social media by management of a holiday resort in Bali, who thought it an excellent idea, and they replicated it on their site with a fish named “Goby”. See below.
It began with “Yoshi the Fish” (pictured) on Malpe Beach, Mangaluru, India The sculpture was spotted on social media by management of a holiday resort in Bali, who thought it an excellent idea, and they replicated it on their site with a fish named “Goby”. See below. Source: Mangalorean.com
“We saw a similar installation on social media and begun researching it. We found out the fish was installed on a beach... and we embraced the idea.” — Craig Seaward, General Manager of W Bali – Seminyak
Luxury boutique hotel, W Bali, Seminyak saw the idea and followed suit “We saw a similar installation on social media and begun researching it. We found out the fish was installed on a beach… and we embraced the idea.”
— Craig Seaward, General Manager of W Bali – Seminyak Source: Karryon.com.au
In celebration of Earth Day, various groups from Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte conducted a coastal and underwater cleanup along shores entitled “We love IloCOAST”. Shared by BrightVibes follower Bernadette Bello Espejo
Dadalaquiten Norte, Sinait, Ilocos Sur, Philippines In celebration of Earth Day, various groups from Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte conducted a coastal and underwater cleanup along shores entitled “We love IloCOAST”. Shared by BrightVibes follower Bernadette Bello Espejo Source: Facebook/BernadettBelloEspejo
“This sculpture in Fuerteventura was filled with bottle tops another great way to keep the world tidy plus looks awesome ?” — Louise Brown
Puerto Del Rosario Fuerteventura|by BrightVibes follower Louise Brown “This sculpture in Fuerteventura was filled with bottle tops another great way to keep the world tidy plus looks awesome ?” — Louise Brown Source: Facebook/LouiseBrown

How about a school of Gobys? It’s not the solution but it’s a solution

Would you be interested in building a similar project on a beach near you? Let us know. If you see any similar initiatives when out and about, please take a picture and share it with us. 

We think this is a great idea. Agreed, it would be better if the problem of single-use disposable plastic didn’t exist but, for now at least, it does.

You can do your bit by bringing your own drinking bottle or cup, and refusing plastic straws, but for now at least it’s good to see initiatives for disposing of the plastic that is for sale around beaches and other nature spots.

And if you’re wondering what happens when these receptacles are full, it’s no mystery—exactly the same thing that happens when pretty much any recycling bin anywhere in the world becomes full—the appropriate actors empty it and the contents are taken away to be recycled, saving at least some plastic from entering the oceans… for now.

Check out BrightVibes “Sustainable Planet” section for a wealth of positive news stories from around the world.

We cover topics ranging from progress being made in green energy, to successful wildlife and reforestation projects, to individuals doing their bit to minimise their impact on the environment or maximise their impact on their chosen eco-enterprise. 

Check out below: beautiful photos kindly sent to us by BrightVibes follower Carmen Van Zyl, Sustainable Development Advisor & Consultant at Tapaz Bar and Invest Islands on Gili Trawangan, Lombok. Please also check out @refillmybottle_ and @fmplgilitrawangan on Instagram.

“Have you seen the only fish in Gilis that wants to be full of our plastic? ? He resides on the beach at @tapazgili waiting to collect all of the plastic bottles that people use once and need to throw away.
Gili Eco Trust: installed by Tapaz Bar and Invest Islands on Gili Trawangan, Lombok. “Have you seen the only fish in Gilis that wants to be full of our plastic? ? He resides on the beach at @tapazgili waiting to collect all of the plastic bottles that people use once and need to throw away. Source: Carmen Van Zyl
They are more than 100 refill stations on Gili Trawangan alone where you can refill your water bottle for free or WAY cheaper than a new bottle. Save yourself money, save our island from drowning in rubbish and save our fish from a plastic trash filled ocean!!
?@refillmybottle_ They are more than 100 refill stations on Gili Trawangan alone where you can refill your water bottle for free or WAY cheaper than a new bottle. Save yourself money, save our island from drowning in rubbish and save our fish from a plastic trash filled ocean!! Source: Carmen Van Zyl
♻️@fmplgilitrawangan Source: Carmen Van Zyl
Please make sure you feed our plastic fish with trash instead of the real fish in the ocean! ???♻️?
Tapaz Bar Please make sure you feed our plastic fish with trash instead of the real fish in the ocean! ???♻️? Source: Carmen Van Zyl
More to the point, what is all that plastic doing IN the sea?! An impressive and beautiful installation on the beach outside of our bar to remind the world (and everyone on Trawangan) that to stop our real fish becoming full of plastic, take your litter with you! ♻️?
Hey what is that fish doing out of the sea?! More to the point, what is all that plastic doing IN the sea?! An impressive and beautiful installation on the beach outside of our bar to remind the world (and everyone on Trawangan) that to stop our real fish becoming full of plastic, take your litter with you! ♻️? Source: Carmen Van Zyl
They also have an incredible eco brick wall made from eco bricks and recycled bottle caps for the artwork!
+ Refill your bottle + Reduce your consumption of plastics + Refuse plastic carrier bags + Recycle the waste you do create They also have an incredible eco brick wall made from eco bricks and recycled bottle caps for the artwork! Source: Carmen Van Zyl
Make an Impact

How you can help combat plastic packaging today

Sustainable solutions are being developed in ever growing numbers, offering the conscientious consumer viable green alternatives to the blight of plastic packaging. Check out BrightVibes article on available alternatives you can adopt today.