Work is underway in the Marshall Islands capital Majuro to try and improve sewage disposal.
A recent assessment by the Marshall Islands Environmental Protection Authority found 9 out of 10 ocean and lagoon locations were badly polluted, often with disease-causing bacteria associated with human and animal waste.
The ocean pollution is caused by a failing, rusted outlet pipe which pumps out raw sewage onto the reef.
Our correspondent in the Marshalls, Giff Johnson, said work is underway to find a solution to this issue but overcoming pollution in the lagoon is a whole different matter.
"That's going to require finding engagement with trying to find a way to get people involved to, essentially, stop polluting their own lagoon, and to deal with ships that may be polluting the lagoon as well," he said.