The rubbish that is a threat to paradise

The island paradise of Raja Ampat is one of the last outposts of the Indonesian archipelago. A remote group of islands with lush white beaches surrounded by turquoise waters, a unique place characterised by its biodiversity. But even here, nature is not left alone by the human footprint. The increasing amount of rubbish in the water is becoming a growing problem.

Raja Ampat is home to around 75 per cent of the world’s hard coral species, along with marine mammals and thousands of fish species. Raja Ampat is one of the few places on earth that stands out for its rich biodiversity. Divers from all over the world come here to discover a myriad of marine life in the warm, crystal clear waters. However, in recent years, the increasing amount of plastic debris in the water has become a growing problem. Plastic floating in large clusters, washed up on beaches by the tide and choking corals and fish.

Fiona Tomasoa lives and works in Raja Ampat, she is originally from the capital Jakarta but has settled on Waigeo with her husband. She has noticed an increase in the amount of rubbish in Raja Ampat and is concerned.

– Plastic has a negative impact on coral reefs, fish and aquatic animals, and the entire ecosystem. ‘If the marine ecosystem is disrupted, our children will not be able to see our ‘home reef’ in the future,’ she says.

But Tomasoa also depends on tourism, and tourists haven’t been travelling for days and paying big money to see plastic.

Where does all the rubbish come from?

Several problems come together. One of them is how the waste ends up in the sea. Some of it comes from tourism, fishing boats and other countries. Raja Ampat’s location and the Pacific currents also make the islands a trap for long-distance waste. But the bulk of the rubbish comes from the growing settlements in the nearby towns of Sorong and Waisai. The increase in litter is also a consequence of Indonesia’s rapid modernisation and increased consumption. Barely two generations ago, all waste generated in Indonesian society was biodegradable.

Another problem is the lack of proper waste management. In some cities, waste collection services exist, but they are often rogue operators who take what has a secondary value and then dump the rest in a nearby river.

And the people of Sorong, living in shacks along the Lorong Obadiri River, where do they dispose of their rubbish? Perhaps it’s not surprising that the river winds its way like one big rubbish bin.

Bring less plastic to the islands

Out on the islands, it is difficult to dispose of non-biodegradable waste. Those who make the effort have to burn or bury their rubbish themselves. What this does for the environment is a question for another day. According to Fiona Tomasoa, one problem is that the villagers simply can’t be bothered.

At Waiwo Dive Resort, where she works, they are actively working to reduce the amount of plastic and rubbish. When the dive guides are off from diving trips with tourists, they are out diving and picking plastic from the corals. They try to minimise plastic consumption by avoiding single-use plastics. In the rooms, there are no plastic bags in the waste bins or plastic water bottles. Fiona Tomasoa says they invested in water machines a few years ago and the rooms have glasses to drink from. The motto is that if you don’t bring plastic to the island, it can’t end up in the sea either.

Important work underway

Fiona Tomasoa is involved with MORA, one of many organisations working on a voluntary basis to preserve nature and the marine environment in Raja Ampat. They remove plastic from the sea, educate islanders about life below the surface and the consequences of littering.

The Indonesian authorities are reportedly working on the problem. But so are many of the inhabitants. They are the ones who encounter plastic debris on a daily basis, who see their ‘home turf’ damaged and their livelihoods threatened. They have taken matters into their own hands. Like Fiona Tomasoa and many other Indonesians with her. All with the same goal – to save paradise.