On Sunday, April 27, 2025, a number of students from the Department of Biology Education - Yogyakarta State University traveled to Bangsring-Banyuwangi, in order to conduct field studies and collect marine data in the coastal waters of Banyuwangi - Bali Strait and Tabuhan Island. Assisted by colleagues from Banyuwangi Diving School, students collected a number of data for research studies on coral reefs and reef fish. Originally students collected data for 3 days, and during the first day evaluation there was a discussion about the condition of Bangsring waters which at that time a lot of plastic waste was seen, both on the surface, in the sand of the beach or floating in the waters.

Responding to a discussion about the condition of Bangsring waters, Banyuwangi Diving School invited students, to jointly conduct underwater clean up in bangsring waters. The invitation was immediately welcomed positively by Rio Handziko (lecturer in the Biology Education department - one of the lecturers accompanying students who already have a diving certificate) and immediately made preparations for the dive the next day, including a dive plan for underwater plastic waste cleanup.

Scuba diving equipment needs for underwater clean up, all organized and provided by Banyuwangi Diving School. Right at 09.00 after breakfast, Banyuwangi Diving School colleagues, along with two students from the marine faculty of Brawijaya University Malang and one lecturer from the biology education department of UNY began to descend into the waters of Bangsring to carry out underwater cleaning.

The underwater cleaning team entered the water using the beach entry method right in front of the coral reef restoration area. This area is a top priority for underwater cleaning, given the large number of relatively new coral transplants, which are prone to breakage if caught in plastic waste. Cleaning was carried out at a depth of 4-meters and continued down the restoration area to a depth of 18-meters. Areas cleaned included fish apartments, wreck ships, gandrung statues, concrete chutes, rock pile and coral transplant areas.

The cleanup continued south into a natural coral reef conservation area. This area was also the focus of the cleanup, as it is part of a Marine Protected Area managed by a local fishing group. The underwater cleanup took a total of about 2 hours. This is part of a real effort from various parties in the Bangsring water area. Previously, Bangsring fishermen collaborated with several parties to also carry out underwater cleaning, in order to maintain the underwater ecosystem in Bangsring waters.

Fishermen and tourism players here are well aware that their main commodity in Bangsring waters is the preservation of the underwater ecosystem. This makes the community also play an active role in being at the forefront of marine ecosystem protection. This is a real step of collaboration between many parties, that we all need more hands to help each other preserve the sea and its contents.

The activity was closed with a statement from Rio Handziko while cleaning up the diving equipment he used at the Banyuwangi Diving School office. “Need more tanks and hands for deeper and longer dives to encourage people to protect our ocean”.