DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – The Bali Provincial Government is preparing a preventive scheme to address the recurring issue of marine waste washing up along the island’s coastline, a problem that typically peaks during certain seasons.
The Head of Bali’s Environment and Forestry Agency (LHK), I Made Dwi Arbani, said the strategy will be supported by detailed data and modeling to map the distribution of incoming waste and identify its sources. According to him, the data will also outline the roles of local governments and existing mitigation efforts, particularly in coastal areas such as Badung Regency.
“I will share all the data, including what has been handled by local governments and what Badung has done. We will also show where the waste comes from, how the modeling works, and how it spreads,” Dwi said on Monday (9/2/2026).
He added that the provincial government plans to strengthen collaboration among multiple stakeholders to tackle marine waste, which has become an annual cycle affecting Bali’s beaches. “This will be a collaborative effort. We will work together,” he stated.
Responding to criticism from members of the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) regarding the reliance on large-scale beach clean-up activities, Dwi acknowledged the concerns and referred to national-level guidance. “The President’s direction has been clear and constructive,” he said, without providing further details.
Earlier, Bali DPRD Commission II member Grace Anastasia Surya Widjaja urged both the central and regional governments to deliver concrete, long-term solutions rather than relying on recurring clean-up campaigns. She emphasized Bali’s strategic role in Indonesia’s tourism sector and its contribution to national foreign exchange earnings.
“We must remember that Bali is the face of Indonesia’s tourism to the world. The tourism sector here contributes significantly to the national economy,” Grace said on Sunday (8/2/2026).
She warned that negative environmental perceptions of Bali would not only harm the province but could also impact Indonesia’s broader economic interests. While appreciating the participation of government officials, community groups, and students in beach clean-ups, she argued that such efforts should not become the primary response.
“Thank you for the heroic actions, but next year I want to see them on the beach enjoying it as visitors, not collecting trash,” Grace said, stressing the need for systemic and preventive solutions to address marine waste at its source.