DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities on Monday called for efforts to protect Tanzania's beaches along the Indian Ocean from pollution.

"The beaches are often littered with garbage, including used plastics, which not only pollute the beaches but also present an eyesore for visitors," Selemani Jafo, minister of State in the Vice President's Office responsible for Union and Environment, said in a statement.

Jafo assigned the local government the responsibility to ensure robust pollution control measures on the beaches.

He also suggested that local government authorities explore ways to incentivize youth groups to collect plastic and other litter from beaches.

According to the Tanzania National Guidance for Plastic Pollution Hotspotting Report, 29,000 tonnes of plastics were released into the Indian Ocean, rivers, and lakes in 2018. - Xinhua