5 MIN READ
08-18-2026
Education on Ghost Nets and Underwater Cleanup by the Team at Bangsring Beach
Ferdi Wardika & Reza Pahlevi, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
Learning About a Hidden Threat
On July 28, 4ocean Java joined the East Java Provincial Marine and Fisheries Agency for an underwater cleanup activity in Bangsring Village. The event brought together 4ocean Java, local fishermen, university students participating in the KKN community service program, and marine and fisheries teams to learn about and directly address marine pollution. As part of the collaboration, 4ocean Java Manager Yohan Efendi delivered an educational session on ghost nets and the serious risks abandoned fishing gear can pose to marine life.
Ghost nets are lost or abandoned fishing gear that can continue catching and entangling marine animals long after they have left the hands of fishermen. Fish, sea turtles, sharks, and other marine life can become trapped in this debris, while fishing gear caught on coral reefs can also damage important underwater habitats.
From Education to Action
Following the educational session, participants moved from learning to action with a beach cleanup along Bangsring Beach. Local fishermen, university students, and other participants worked together to collect waste carried ashore by ocean currents, including single-use plastics, bottles, and pieces of fishing nets.
The cleanup then continued beneath the surface. Members of the Underwater Team entered the water to remove plastic waste and remnants of fishing nets that had become trapped among the coral reefs. Removing this debris helped reduce immediate threats to marine life while giving participants a firsthand look at the pollution affecting the underwater environment.
Impact Details
The Underwater Team discovered and removed several pieces of plastic waste trapped within the coral reefs on the seafloor. The team also recovered remnants of fishing nets and other marine debris that could potentially entangle wildlife or damage the surrounding ecosystem. Although no total weight was recorded for the underwater cleanup, each piece of debris removed represented a direct step toward creating a safer environment for marine life.
A Shared Responsibility
For Yohan Efendi, seeing waste reach such a beautiful coastal environment reinforces the importance of bringing communities together to protect it.
“It is unfortunate to see such a beautiful beach affected by waste carried in by ocean currents, which can diminish its natural beauty and pose a threat to the ecosystem beneath the surface.”
The event demonstrated that ocean conservation requires more than cleanup alone. Education helps people understand where marine pollution comes from and why seemingly discarded items can continue causing harm long after they leave our hands.
Working Together for the Ocean
The collaboration between 4ocean Java, the East Java Provincial Marine and Fisheries Agency, local fishermen, university students, and other participants showed what can happen when different groups work toward the same goal. The combination of education, beach cleanup, and underwater action allowed participants to address pollution both above and below the water.
Every piece of fishing gear removed from the reef and every piece of plastic collected from the shoreline represents a small reduction in the threats facing marine ecosystems. More importantly, the experience gave participants an opportunity to see those threats firsthand and understand their role in preventing them.
Protecting the ocean is a shared responsibility. By learning about threats such as ghost nets, reducing waste, managing fishing gear responsibly, and taking action when pollution is found, communities can help create healthier coastal environments for marine life and for the people who depend on the sea.
