Sea turtles spend most of their lives in the ocean, but female sea turtles return to beaches to lay their eggs. This critical journey is often disrupted by plastic waste. Rangers from the Indonesian Sea Turtle Foundation (YPI) frequently come across signs of “false crawls”—tracks where turtles turn back to the ocean without nesting because their path is obstructed by debris or large pieces of wood.
One example is on the nesting beaches we protect in Berau, which are often littered with plastic waste brought in by ocean currents. This issue becomes even more severe during the rainy season, presenting a significant challenge for our rangers. To tackle this, our ranger teams conduct regular beach cleanups to ensure that nesting turtles and baby sea turtles (tukik) have clear, unobstructed paths to and from the ocean.
The collected waste is then sorted and creatively repurposed at YPI’s camp. In Berau, plastic bottles are transformed into eco-bricks, while bottle caps are used as wall decorations. These innovative approaches help reduce waste and support sustainability.
However, addressing the plastic waste problem requires a collective effort. Governments can strengthen waste reduction policies and provide incentives for sustainable waste management. At the same time, individuals must take responsibility for the waste they produce. Specialized facilities for plastic waste processing are essential, not only in sea turtle conservation areas but also in all regions, to ensure a healthy environment for future generations.
