By: Alan Batkormbawa - WWF-Indonesia Inner Banda Arc Subseascape (IBAS)

The atmosphere at Watdek Bridge City Park, Southeast Maluku was busier than usual that day. Diving tubes, full diving gear, trashbags, and nets to collect trash had been neatly prepared in the heart of the Kei Islands. At 2.30pm WIT, the scorching sun did not dampen the spirits of the participants who were preparing their diving equipment. On Sunday (8/4), WWF-Indonesia Inner Banda Arc Subseascape (IBAS) together with Southeast Maluku Regency Marine Office, Southeast Maluku Regency Environment Office, Tual City Housing Office, PSDKP Tual, PPN Dumar, and several communities such as Kai Dive Community (KDC), Polikant Diving Club (PDC), OMK Langgur, Kei Paradise and Kaki Bajalang held a Joint Action to Clean the Kei Sea Coast with the theme "The Sea is Not a Place for Trash" and the sub-theme "Realizing the Kei Islands as a Sustainable Tourism Destination".

"This activity is a form of spontaneity with the aim of inviting the Kei Islands community (Southeast Maluku Regency and Tual City) to care about waste, especially the cleanliness of Kei sea waters. The fact is that now tourism in the Kei Islands is trending in Indonesia and even abroad because of its beautiful sea, scenery and beaches, therefore this activity also has the aim of realizing Southeast Maluku as a sustainable tourism destination," explained Andreas Hero Ohoiulun, Project Leader WWF-Indonesia Inner Banda Arc Subseascape (IBAS).

This action was carried out in the Roosenberg Strait, Watdek Bridge, which connects Tual City and Southeast Maluku Regency and is an icon of both regions. The level of pollution in the Roosenberg Strait is quite high, especially in coastal areas that are densely populated and filled with community activities. Not only is the coastal area polluted, but there is also a lot of garbage in the sea. In fact, these waters are home to an ecosystem that is mostly sandy substrate. Therefore, this social action is expected to be witnessed by the entire community directly so that people can be aware and play an active role in maintaining the cleanliness and beauty of the surrounding waters and coasts.

"We will dive at 4 points and the participants are according to what has been divided. The garbage taken is in the form of plastic waste, fabric waste, used goods, and wood waste. "explained Ongky Ingratubun, Dive Coordinator and Chairman of Kai Diving Community (KDC) during the briefing. After the briefing, 15 divers headed to the dive site using 3 speedboats. In addition to the divers, other participants also collected trash using nets on the surface of the water using speedboats on the coast of Watdek Bridge and some participants also cleaned up trash in Watdek Park.

"Tourism will develop and attract tourists if the area is clean, friendly, and comfortable. We have done a lot of socialization efforts to the community about waste care and handling, but public awareness has not yet emerged. We all hope that people can realize to dispose of waste in its place because waste is our shared responsibility. We are currently building a 3R-based Waste Processing Station, namely Reuse, Reduce, and Recycle, " explained Ir. Alex Wiyono, Head of the Southeast Maluku Regency Environmental Service.

This waste cleanup action resulted in sacks of garbage collected by the participants. The majority of the waste found was plastic waste (bottles, food wrappers, diapers), cloth, wood and used electronics. The waste was collected into a garbage truck that had been provided by the Southeast Maluku Regency Environment Agency and taken to the landfill for processing.

Johanes Bosko Rahawarin, Member of the Southeast Maluku Regency DPRD for the 2014-2019 period also appreciated this activity. He said, "I really appreciate the cooperation that has been done by WWF-Indonesia in collaboration with related agencies and communities from both Tual and Southeast Maluku Regency. This activity is a positive activity that will encourage and have a positive impact of course for the community, when they witness activities like this, then hopefully they will also be aware and begin to participate in maintaining environmental cleanliness."