By: Sunda Banda Seascape Communication & Campaign Team, WWF-Indonesia

"Let's work together as one
Preserving marine life
Coral reefs where fish spawn
We protect it from being destroyed"

That was the song sung by the Wayang Samudera performers in the courtyard of Penataran Agung Ped Temple, Nusa Penida, Bali, on June 9, 2017.

Penataran Agung Ped Temple is always crowded with people from all over Bali who seek spirituality. The sacred temple in the south of the Nusa Strait that night was not only filled with semeton who worshiped the full moon night. They were also present to enliven the celebration of World Ocean Day and Coral Triangle Day which falls on June 8 and June 9 each year.

The event was organized by the Coral Triangle Center (CTC) in collaboration with the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of the Nusa Penida Marine Conservation Area (KKP), the Denpasar Coastal and Marine Resources Management Center (BPSPL), and the local government.

The theme raised in this year's celebration is plastic waste. According to research published in the journal Science in 2015, three countries in the Coral Triangle are among the ten countries with the highest levels of marine waste (Jambeck, et. al.). Indonesia is ranked second in terms of ocean waste generation with 187.2 million tons.

This issue is indeed one of the major threats to the sustainability of marine and coastal ecosystems. Not only can it cause damage to coral reefs and a decrease in wildlife populations, plastic waste also has the potential to harm the marine tourism sector.

"The waste problem can be changed with public awareness. Nusa Penida is given a lot of potential as a conservation area, but it must be balanced with our competence to manage it," said the Regent of Klungkung Regency, I Nyoman Suwirta, when delivering his welcoming speech.

Not only trying to educate the public in attendance through the Wayang Samudera performance, the event also invited all Balinese to commit to fighting plastic waste.

This was outlined in the Stop Throwing Garbage into the Sea Declaration document, which was signed by the Director of Conservation and Marine Biodiversity of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Andi Rusandi; Head of BPSPL Denpasar, Suko Wardono; and Head of UPT KKP Nusa Penida, I Nyoman Karyawan.

A few days before the peak celebration, there had also been a series of events such as a junior high school quiz competition in Nusa Penida; beach cleanup, sea cleanup, and coral transplantation in Padang Bai, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Penida.

Not only that. In other locations, a number of communities and a combination of students from universities in Bali also held similar actions by highlighting the issue of plastic waste as the main problem.

On June 17, 2017, Udayana University's Turtle Guard together with the Clean Bali Forum, for example, chose Pura Dalem Segara Taman Ayung at Padanggalak Beach, Sanur, as the location for a beach cleanup action.

"As Balinese people, we should hold the philosophy of life of three sources of welfare called Tri Hita Karana, where we maintain harmony between human relations with God, the natural environment, and others," said the Chairman of the Clean Bali Forum.

"As one of the world's tourist destinations, where the people still adhere to this custom, the principle of harmony with nature should be easier to practice," he continued.

By holding these concrete actions, it is hoped that it is not only for the sake of celebration, but can encourage the public to realize it in everyday life, for the sake of environmental sustainability in the future.