5 MIN READ
03-04-2026
Sembulungan Bay Cleanup with Circularity
Dika, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
On February 11, 2026, Team River 4ocean Java carried out a shoreline cleanup at Sembulungan Bay with the support of our partner Circularity. The crew gathered at the 4ocean Java base early in the morning, sharing the same determination to protect the coastline from plastic pollution. Because bad weather often develops in the afternoon, the team departed at 6:00 a.m. after preparing all necessary equipment, including sacks, ropes, weighing scales, and personal protective gear.
Once preparations were complete, the team headed to the dock and boarded a 4ocean boat to cross the water toward Sembulungan Bay. From a distance, the coastline appeared calm and beautiful. However, as the team approached the shore, the contrast became clear. The natural beauty of the beach and surrounding ocean stood side by side with scattered debris along the sand.
Without delay, the crew began working along the shoreline. Empty sacks quickly filled with plastic waste, bamboo fragments, and other debris carried by currents and tides. Alongside larger items, the team also encountered microplastic particles trapped between sand and organic materials. These small pieces require extra care to remove, but they are among the most dangerous forms of pollution because they can easily enter the marine food chain.
After three hours of steady work, the team lined up the filled sacks along the shoreline. Under the direction of Captain Prayoga Setiawan, the crew loaded the waste onto the boat and returned to the dock. The collected debris was then transported to the 4ocean Java base using a pickup truck, where the sacks were weighed and documented.
By the end of the cleanup, the team had removed 1,757.8 pounds of waste across 62 sacks. This included 1,619.3 pounds of plastic waste in 60 sacks and 138.5 pounds of mixed debris in two sacks. The results highlighted the scale of pollution reaching coastal areas and the importance of consistent cleanup efforts.
For crew member Ferri Prassetiawan, the experience was both motivating and emotional. He shared, “It is very heartbreaking to see beaches and rivers, places that should be beautiful and serve as a safe home for millions of aquatic ecosystems, filled with trash. We hope more people become aware of the dangers of waste in our waterways.”
One of the main challenges during the cleanup was removing small plastic particles trapped among sand and bamboo fragments. These materials required careful attention and patience to collect properly. Despite the extra effort, the team remained focused on ensuring that even the smallest pollutants were removed from the shoreline.
The cleanup at Sembulungan Bay served as a reminder that most marine debris originates on land. Waste that is carelessly discarded in drains, rivers, and waterways eventually reaches the ocean. Plastic, which takes many years to decompose, often breaks down into microplastics that can be consumed by marine animals and eventually enter the human food chain.
With the support of Circularity, we continue working to remove waste from coastlines while promoting responsible waste management and environmental awareness. Cleanup actions like this demonstrate that protecting the ocean requires more than a single effort. It requires consistent action, education, and a shared commitment to caring for the ecosystems that sustain life on our planet.
Learn more about 4ocean's partnership with Circularity here.
