Cleaning Up Redang: Above and Below the Surface

In January, members of the Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG) carried out a series of clean-up efforts across Redang, both on land and underwater, successfully removing a total of 621 kg of marine debris.

At Pasir Akar Beach, 5 members collected 279 kg of waste, while another team of 6 removed 213 kg from Pulau Kerengga Besar. Beyond the physical clean-up, all data was recorded using the Clean Swell app, contributing to global data collected and managed by Ocean Conservancy.

Out at sea, the team also removed 129 kg of ghost nets from the waters of Teluk Rotan. Fortunately, no marine life was found entangled in the nets, despite their size and weight. The recovered nets were later handed over to the Department of Fisheries for proper processing.

These efforts highlight how consistent community-led action not only helps keep coastlines clean, but also helps us better understand and address marine pollution at a larger scale.

The team with the ghost nets collected

Learning From Others in the Region

Recently, Muhaimin (Redang), Diana (Mantanani), and Mulsedi from the Selakan Marine Conservation Group (SMCG) travelled to Bali for a learning exchange on sustainable marine tourism in Marine Protected Areas.

The programme brought together participants from across the Coral Triangle (including Indonesia, the Philippines and Timor-Leste) to share experiences, challenges and what’s actually working on the ground.

Through site visits to Nusa Penida MPA and nearby mangrove areas, the group got to see how local communities are managing tourism while still protecting their marine environments. It was a good opportunity to step outside our own context, learn from others, and think about what could be adapted back home in our own island communities.

Building Skills and Strengthening Communities

In Redang, recent efforts have focused on building both practical skills and stronger community foundations to support long-term conservation. 5 Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG) members upgraded their SCUBA certification from Open Water (OW) to Advanced Open Water (AOW), enabling them to work more confidently at greater depths to support conservation efforts. Meanwhile, we also recruited 10 new members for our RMCG , strengthening a growing network of community-led conservation efforts. As part of their onboarding, members took part in sessions on basic marine ecology to help them better understand and care for the reefs around them.

At the same time, 13 local residents took part in a programme organised by SERATA, exploring leadership and the importance of equal rights, particularly within the context of community-based conservation.

Together, these efforts highlight that effective conservation is not just about technical skills, but also about building inclusive and empowered communities that can work together to protect their marine environment.

The 5 newly certified AOW divers with Muhaimin (front)