5 MIN READ
05-22-2026
Cleaning the Bago Estuary From River to Coast
Dika, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
Floodwaters often leave behind more than damaged land and rising water levels. In Muara Bago, they also leave a trail of plastic waste tangled through mangroves, rivers, and coastal areas. On May 2, the 4ocean Java River Team returned to the estuary for another cleanup mission focused on stopping that waste before it spreads deeper into the surrounding ecosystem.
The Muara Bago estuary connects several rivers, including the Pangpang River, Sraten River, and Kebaman River. During periods of heavy rain and flooding, those waterways become channels that carry large amounts of debris downstream toward the coast. By the time the waste reaches the estuary, it is often scattered across mangrove roots, trapped in muddy shorelines, or floating out toward the sea.
Before sunrise, River Team Captain Krisna Iza Rabindra gathered the crew to prepare for the operation. Fuel tanks, sacks, ropes, trash nets, and life jackets were loaded onto the boats before the team departed from the 4ocean Java dock. Reaching the cleanup site required approximately 45 minutes of travel by sea.
When the team arrived at Muara Bago, they immediately held a short briefing to divide cleanup zones and review safety procedures. The crew then spread out across the estuary, working through riverbanks, mangrove forests, and nearby coastal areas where plastic waste had accumulated after recent flooding.
The cleanup quickly became physically demanding. Plastic bags, bottles, foam, pipes, sandals, and food packaging were tightly trapped between mangrove roots and buried beneath layers of mud and sand. Some crew members worked from the boats while others stepped directly into the muddy shoreline to pull debris free by hand.
High tides and strong winds created additional challenges throughout the day. Finding stable places to secure the boats was difficult, forcing the crew to anchor both the front and rear sides of each vessel to prevent drifting. Even so, the team continued filling sack after sack with waste collected from the estuary.
By the end of the operation, the team had removed 775.70 pounds of plastic waste across 43 sacks. Every sack was transported back to the dock, weighed, and loaded onto a pickup truck before being taken to the 4ocean Java base for sorting and further processing.
For crew member Biatra Mardianto, the work represents something larger than a routine cleanup. “I will continue to strive to maximize my responsibilities. This is not just a job. It is a calling to realize our shared dream of a clean and healthy environment. Do not complain about any conditions or circumstances, because I believe that through a consistent process, we will achieve satisfying results.”
The cleanup at Muara Bago highlights how rivers remain one of the largest pathways carrying waste into the ocean. Much of the debris found in the estuary originated far upstream before being pushed downstream by rain, river currents, and floodwaters.
Mangroves, estuaries, and coastal ecosystems are natural barriers that protect shorelines and provide habitats for countless species. But when plastic waste accumulates in these environments, the damage spreads quickly through the ecosystem. Waste entangled in mangrove roots can block water flow, harm marine wildlife, and eventually break down into dangerous microplastics.
For the 4ocean Java River Team, this mission was about more than removing debris from the shoreline. It was about demonstrating that consistent action, education, and community awareness can still create meaningful change.
Every sack lifted from the mud was a reminder that protecting rivers upstream helps protect the ocean downstream.
