5 MIN READ
06-19-2025
Where Rivers Meet the Sea: An Estuary Restored
Ahmad Fasta, 4ocean Indonesia Content Correspondent
That morning, the 4ocean Indonesia team arrived at a quiet estuary in Indonesia—one long known as a convergence point for trash carried by river currents and ocean tides. As the sun rose, the shoreline revealed itself: old fishing nets tangled around roots and rocks, fabric scraps wedged into crevices, and clusters of plastic and household debris scattered between wild shrubs and stones. The terrain wasn’t easy to work with, but it didn’t stop the crew.
They split up quickly. On the right side of the estuary, several team members focused on removing thick nets embedded deep into the shoreline. They worked patiently, untangling ropes while making sure the surrounding vegetation wasn’t harmed. Others scanned the beach for lighter plastics—bottle caps, wrappers, broken bits—bagging everything by hand.
As the sun climbed higher, so did the challenges. Heat bore down hard. The rocky ground made it risky to move full sacks without slipping. Still, the team pressed on with practiced rhythm, signaling each other to coordinate movement and keep the load flowing. By the end, the estuary that once choked on debris could breathe again.
The crew collected a total of 2,093.67 lbs of waste. Dominant items included damaged fishing nets and textiles, along with plastic, used tires, sacks, dolls, and tangled rope fragments. Much of this was trapped in spots where water currents naturally converged or piled up along coastal brush. This cleanup helped keep debris from washing back into the ocean and played a vital role in protecting the surrounding marine environment.
The crew was genuinely proud to restore a place long known for catching the worst of the waste. When large nets were finally pulled out from beneath the rocks, there was no need for fanfare—it was enough to see the water flowing clear again. “Without much talking, everyone just knew what to do,” one crew member shared. “Some pulled, others sorted. It felt like we were part of the current.”
Most of the waste had been stuck for a long time—wet, heavy, and clumped together. Removing the older nets required both care and force, especially when they were wrapped tightly around roots or buried beneath rocks. The ground itself wasn’t always kind either: narrow paths and uneven surfaces slowed down the process of transporting full sacks. And by midmorning, the heat was already intense, testing everyone’s endurance.
