Daru fish factory faces public backlash over alleged waste dumping

A seafood processing factory in Daru, Western has come under fire from residents and health authorities over allegations of improper waste disposal and foul odours linked to its beche-de-mer operations.

Aquilla Seafood Enterprise, which has been processing sea cucumbers since the season opened, is accused of discharging untreated waste and producing a strong stench that has sparked widespread health concerns.

Locals have taken to social media and voiced complaints about the unbearable smell near the factory, prompting intervention from the Western Provincial Health Authority [WPHA].

Environmental Health Officer Bian Mawan said her team inspected the factory last Friday following multiple public complaints.

“We have instructed Aquilla Seafoods to carry out all boiling and cleansing of raw sea cucumbers outside the Daru CBD area,” Mawan said. “Only drying and storage are to be done at their current premises in town.”

Mawan said the factory has been pouring wastewater directly into the Murray Road drainage, in breach of environmental safety requirements.

“The company has not complied with our directives. Their indiscriminate waste disposal has affected the public, and despite warnings, they remain non-compliant,” she said.

Mawan warned that the WPHA would not hesitate to shut down the factory if a proper waste management plan is not implemented immediately.

However, during a visit by NBC News, factory supervisor Mukawa Arona denied the allegations, saying the company does not discharge waste into drains.

Arona showed reporters 1,000-litre storage tanks used to collect wastewater, which he said are later emptied into the sea under controlled conditions. He also denied that the foul smell was coming from their processing area.

The conflicting claims between the company and the community have raised further questions about environmental compliance and public health risks in the small island town.

Health officials say monitoring will continue, and failure to comply with waste management regulations could lead to the closure of Aquilla Seafood Enterprise.