5 MIN READ
06-25-2026
Santen Island Beach Is Still Recovering
Dika, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
For the 4ocean Java Beach Team, returning to Santen Island Beach meant returning to a coastline still struggling under the weight of marine pollution.
The beach remains one of the coastal areas in Banyuwangi most frequently affected by debris washing ashore. While Santen Island Beach continues to serve as an important destination for tourism and a source of livelihood for local fishing communities, large amounts of waste continue to accumulate along its shoreline, threatening both its natural beauty and ecological health.
On June 8, the team once again set out to help restore the beach through another cleanup operation.
Equipped with cleanup supplies and personal protective equipment, the crew traveled to the site by motorcycle before preparing to begin their work. Upon arrival, they found debris scattered across the shoreline. Plastic waste could be seen mixed among natural materials, stretching across sections of the beach from north to south.
Without delay, the team began moving methodically across the coastline, collecting waste and filling sack after sack with debris recovered from the sand.
As the cleanup progressed, the scale of the pollution became increasingly apparent.
Among the most common items recovered were plastic packaging, plastic cups, plastic bottles, stuffed toys, diapers, and other forms of marine debris. A significant portion of the waste consisted of fermented milk drink bottles, which appeared repeatedly throughout the cleanup area.
At first glance, the contrast was striking. The river itself appeared healthy and serene, yet the floating barrier revealed a steady stream of pollution moving through the waterway. Days of accumulated waste had gathered against the boom, preventing it from continuing downstream toward nearby recreational areas and, eventually, the ocean.
While much of the debris likely originated from a variety of sources, fishing activity can also contribute to the problem. Plastic waste often becomes entangled in fishing nets and catches before eventually being discarded or left behind along the coast. Over time, these materials accumulate and become part of a growing pollution problem that affects both the shoreline and the surrounding marine environment.
Impact Details
By the end of the cleanup, the 4ocean Java Beach Team had removed a total of 1,487.40 pounds of debris from Santen Island Beach, filling 45 sacks during the operation.
Of that total, 314.90 pounds consisted of plastic waste collected across 21 sacks, while 1,172.50 pounds of mixed waste filled an additional 24 sacks. The large volume of material recovered highlights the ongoing pollution challenges facing this section of coastline and demonstrates why regular cleanup efforts remain necessary.
As the sacks continued to fill throughout the day, they served as a visible reminder of how much waste continues to wash ashore. Each sack represented debris that would no longer threaten marine life, degrade coastal habitats, or remain scattered across a beach relied upon by local communities.
A Message from the Crew
"The beach offers us the beauty of nature, framed by the vast ocean. It is only right that we give back through our care and responsibility. Every piece of debris we remove from the shoreline represents a positive habit that we should practice together. Through these collective actions, we can help create cleaner beaches, healthier oceans, and a better future for generations to come."
— Agung Rizki Bastian
Overcoming Distance in the Field
One of the primary challenges encountered during the operation was the considerable distance between the cleanup area and the designated weighing station.
Because the affected section of beach was located far from the weighing area, transporting the collected debris required additional coordination. To solve the problem, the team used motorcycles to shuttle the filled sacks from the shoreline to the weighing station.
Once weighing and documentation were completed, the debris was loaded onto a 4ocean pickup truck and transported back to the 4ocean Java base for further processing.
More Than a Cleanup
Santen Island Beach plays an important role in supporting both tourism and fisheries within the region. The health of the coastline directly impacts the livelihoods of people who depend on clean beaches and productive marine ecosystems.
When large amounts of debris accumulate along the shoreline, the consequences extend beyond aesthetics. Marine animals can become entangled in or ingest plastic waste, coastal habitats can be damaged, and pollution can eventually break down into smaller particles that move through the food chain. These impacts can ultimately affect both wildlife and human communities.
The thousands of pieces of debris that continue to wash ashore at Santen Island Beach serve as evidence that marine pollution remains a persistent challenge. For that reason, the 4ocean Java Beach Team has committed to conducting regular cleanups at this location as part of a broader effort to reduce pollution and protect coastal ecosystems.
Every cleanup contributes to a larger mission. By removing debris from beaches, rivers, and waterways, the team helps prevent pollution from causing further harm while also encouraging greater awareness around responsible waste management.
Santen Island Beach may still be recovering, but each cleanup brings the shoreline one step closer to the healthy and thriving ecosystem it deserves to be.
