"Thousands of dead fish are washing ashore and people are falling ill too, as officials investigate possible sources of contamination."

"It started in December, when dead fish began washing ashore New Ireland — a mountainous island in Papua New Guinea’s New Ireland Province, flanked by the Pacific Ocean and the Bismarck Sea. 

At first, just a few fish scattered the beaches—mostly small bluestripe herring, which school in shallow tropical waters. Within a few weeks, they were landing in droves.

By January, reports of the die-offs mounted across several coastal communities settled along the island’s east coast. Some residents reported they’d also developed severe rashes after coming into contact with seawater. As alarm spread, John Aini—founder of Ailan Awareness, a local Indigenous-led marine conservation non-government organization—set out with his team to investigate by visiting some of the affected villages. What he saw was worse than he could have imagined.

“Hundreds and hundreds of fish littered the beach,” said the elder activist in his 60s. Most had no eyes, he said. “I’ve never witnessed anything like it in my entire life.” "

Teresa Tomassoni reports for Inside Climate News March 29, 2026. [2]