In commemoration of World Sea Turtle Day, observed annually on 16 June, Yayasan Penyu Indonesia (YPI) proudly participated in the international 2026 Global Ocean Cleanup campaign. This global initiative, organized by the Oceanic Society in collaboration with SEE Turtles and Sea Turtle Week, brings together communities, conservation organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) worldwide to take tangible action in reducing plastic pollution in the ocean.
In line with YPI’s mission to protect sea turtle populations and conserve their habitats, beach cleanup activities were conducted from 8–16 June 2026 across several YPI project sites, including Berau, Nias, Sipora, and the YPI–Ecosystem Impact (EI) Joint Program in Simeulue. These locations are important nesting habitats for Leatherback, Green, Hawksbill, and Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. The activities included beach cleanups, sea turtle conservation education sessions, coloring activities for children, and public awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of protecting coastal ecosystems.
The initiative brought together a wide range of stakeholders, including YPI staff, Ecosystem Impact, local government agencies, community groups, environmental organizations, students, and coastal communities. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to protecting sea turtles, whose survival depends greatly on clean and healthy coastal habitats.
In addition to cleaning coastal areas, the event also served as an educational platform to raise public awareness about the impacts of plastic pollution on marine life. Marine debris poses significant threats to sea turtles through ingestion, entanglement, and the degradation of nesting beaches.
Through the 2026 Global Ocean Cleanup, YPI and a total of 199 participants successfully removed 619.9 kg of waste from coastal areas across its project sites. The collected waste consisted of 472.8 kg of inorganic waste and 147.1 kg of organic waste. All waste was recorded and sorted by category to better understand the dominant types of coastal pollution found at each location. In collaboration with the relevant local government agencies and sanitation services, the sorted waste was then collected and transported to designated disposal facilities.
This initiative demonstrates that sea turtle conservation extends beyond protecting nests and monitoring populations. It also requires safeguarding the coastal and marine environments where sea turtles live, forage, and reproduce. Through the spirit of “Clean Oceans, Thriving Sea Turtles,” YPI encourages everyone to play an active role in protecting our oceans for future generations.
Activity Summary
Activity: 2026 Global Ocean Cleanup
Global Organizers: Oceanic Society, in collaboration with SEE Turtles and Sea Turtle Week
Implementing Organization: Yayasan Penyu Indonesia (YPI)
Implementation Period: 8–16 June 2026
Locations: YPI project sites in Berau, Nias, Sipora, and the YPI–Ecosystem Impact (EI) Joint Program in Simeulue
Total Waste Collected: 619.9 kg
Inorganic Waste Collected: 472.8 kg
Organic Waste Collected: 147.1 kg
Total Participants: 199
