MERO BLOGSPOT & ARTICLES
Celebrating World Oceans Day through the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC): MERO Foundation and the Tulamben Community Join Forces to Reduce Marine Debris
Creator: Community & Outreach Team
Published: 01 October 2026
Karangasem, Bali, October 2026 — In collaboration with the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), coordinated by Ocean Conservancy, MERO Foundation continues to strengthen its efforts to reduce marine debris while raising public awareness of the importance of protecting coastal and marine ecosystems in Tulamben, Bali, as part of World Ocean Days celebration. This collaboration focuses not only on reducing waste that has already polluted the environment, but also on encouraging community involvement in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems for the long term. Through activities that directly involve the local community, MERO Foundation seeks to foster a shared sense of care and responsibility for the ocean as an important part of life in Tulamben.
© MERO Foundation
Marine debris is a destructive environmental threat to marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves, and coastal areas. According to a report by ICC (Ocean Conservancy Annual Data Release), seven of the ten most commonly collected types of waste are plastic items. Plastic has a strong polymer structure that makes it difficult to break down naturally. When plastic waste enters the marine environment, it is continuously exposed to waves and sunlight. Over time, this can cause plastic to fragment into microplastics, which can enter marine food webs and pose risks to marine organisms.
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© MERO Foundation
As part of its mission to conserve Indonesia’s marine ecosystems, MERO Foundation conducts environmental cleanup activities to help prevent damage to marine ecosystems caused by marine debris, particularly plastic waste. To support this mission, MERO has regularly conducted beach, river, and underwater cleanups from 2022 to the present. Through these activities, MERO Foundation has collected a total of 2,906 kg of waste. Among the waste collected, fishing hooks and nets, food packaging, and plastic bags were among the most common items. Furthermore, the team has encountered marine organisms that were found dead or injured in association with this waste, including sea sponges, crabs, and corals.
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Through its marine environmental cleanup activities, MERO Foundation not only addresses marine debris in Tulamben but also educates the community about the importance of protecting marine ecosystems for the shared future of Tulamben. Through educational programs such as MERO Goes to School and Guardian Blue, the MERO team actively raises awareness about the impacts of plastic waste, different types of plastic waste, and the actions that young people can take to reduce plastic pollution.
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© MERO Foundation
MERO Foundation would also like to express its deepest appreciation to the ICC for its collaboration in this World Oceans Day initiative. With support from the ICC and directly coordinated by the Ocean Conservancy, MERO has been able to maximize its strategies for addressing plastic waste in Tulamben. As an international initiative dedicated to ocean conservation, ICC continues to develop programs that support the health and quality of marine ecosystems around the world, including in Indonesia. ICC is a volunteer-based program that has been carried out since 1986. To learn more about the International Coastal Cleanup, please visit Ocean Conservancy.
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Through collaboration among organisations, local communities, volunteers, and other stakeholders in commemorating World Oceans Day, MERO Foundation believes that collective efforts to protect our oceans can create greater and more sustainable impacts. Together, let us continue to contribute to a healthier and better ocean.
Media Contact
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MERO Foundation
Email: contact@merofoundation.org
WhatsApp: (+62) 812-3761-2211
Instagram: @merofoundationidn
Website: https://merofoundation.org
Merayakan Hari Laut Sedunia bersaa International Coastal Cleanup (ICC): MERO Foundation dan Masyarakat Tulamben Bersatu Tangan untuk Mengurangi Sampah Laut
Kreator: Tim Community & Outreach
Publish: 01 Oktober 2026
Karangasem, Bali, October 2026 — Bersama International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) yang dikoordinasi oleh Ocean Conservancy, MERO Foundation terus memperkuat upaya pengurangan sampah laut sekaligus meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat terhadap pentingnya menjaga ekosistem pesisir dan laut di Tulamben, Bali dalam rangka merayakan aksi Hari Laut Sedunia. Kerja sama ini tidak hanya berfokus pada pengurangan sampah yang telah mencemari lingkungan, tetapi juga mendorong keterlibatan masyarakat dalam menjaga kesehatan ekosistem laut secara berkelanjutan. Melalui kegiatan yang melibatkan masyarakat secara langsung, MERO Foundation berupaya membangun rasa kepedulian dan tanggung jawab bersama terhadap laut sebagai bagian penting dari kehidupan masyarakat Tulamben.
© MERO Foundation
Sampah merupakan ancaman lingkungan yang destruktif terhadap ekosistem laut, seperti ekosistem karang, lamun, mangrove, dan pesisir. Berdasarkan laporan yang dibawakan oleh ICC (Ocean Conservancy Annual Data Release), tujuh dari sepuluh sampah terbanyak yang berhasil dikumpulkan adalah tipe sampah plastik. Plastik sendiri memiliki struktur polimer yang kuat dan sulit untuk diuraikan. Ketika sampah plastik berada di laut, maka plastik akan terus-menerus terpapar oleh ombak laut dan cahaya matahari. Akibatnya, plastik akan melepaskan mikroplastik ke ekosistem laut dan masuk ke rantai makanan, meracuni dan beresiko membunuh biota laut.
© MERO Foundation
Dalam misi konservasi ekosistem laut Indonesia, MERO Foundation melaksanakan kegiatan bersih-bersih lingkungan untuk mencegah kerusakan ekosistem laut akibat sampah laut, terutama sampah plastik. Guna mewujudkan mimpi tersebut, MERO secara regular mengadakan bersih-bersih pantai, sungai, dan bawah air dari tahun 2022 hingga hari ini. Melalui kegiatan ini, MERO Foundation mampu mengumpulkan sebanyak 2906 kg sampah. Diantara seluruh sampah yang berhasil diperoleh, kail dan jaring nelayan, plastik pembungkus makanan, serta kantong plastik menjadi sampah dengan jumlah terbanyak. Terlebih lagi, kami menemukan biota laut yang mati maupun terluka akibat sampah-sampah tersebut, seperti spons laut, kepiting, dan karang.
Melalui kegiatan bersih-bersih lingkungan laut, MERO Foundation tidak hanya menanggulangi sampah laut yang ada di Tulamben saja, namun juga mengedukasi masyarakat tentang pentingnya menjaga ekosistem laut untuk masa depan Tulamben bersama. Dengan program edukasi seperti MERO Goes to School dan Guardian Blue, tim MERO secara nyata menjelaskan apa saja dampak yang disebabkan oleh sampah plastik, jenis-jenis sampah plastik, dan apa yang harus dilakukan generasi muda untuk mengurangi dampak sampah plastik.
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© MERO Foundation
MERO Foundation juga menyampaikan apresiasi yang besar kepada ICC dalam kerjasama Hari Laut Sedunia ini. Dengan adanya bantuan dari ICC dan dikoordinasi langsung dibawah naungan Ocean Conservancy, MERO mampu memaksimalkan strategi penanggulangan sampah plastik di Tulamben. ICC sebagai manifestasi akan kepedulian laut internasional juga akan terus mengembangkan program-program yang terus mendukung kualitas ekosistem laut di dunia, termasuk Indonesia. ICC berdiri sebagai program volunteer yang dijalankan sejak 1986. Untuk mengenal ICC lebih jauh, silahkan mengecek website yang dimiliki oleh Ocean Conservancy.
Melalui kolaborasi antara organisasi, masyarakat, relawan, dan berbagai pihak lainnya pada rangkaian memperingati Hari Laut Sedunia, MERO Foundation percaya bahwa upaya menjaga laut dapat memberikan dampak yang lebih besar dan berkelanjutan. Salam laut, terus berkontribusi untuk bumi yang lebih baik.
Media Contact
​
MERO Foundation
Email: contact@merofoundation.org
WhatsApp: (+62) 812-3761-2211
Instagram: @merofoundationidn
Website: https://merofoundation.org