5 MIN READ
03-05-2025
Rescuing Joshy, Domy, and Shu: A Mission to Save Sea Turtles from Ocean Waste
Kubik, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent
March 05, 2025 – Candikusuma Beach, Negara, Bali
The morning began like any other for the 4ocean cleanup crew. At 7:00 AM, they gathered at Pengambengan Harbor, preparing their boats for another day of clearing plastic waste from the waters of Bali. But as they patrolled the ocean between Pengambengan and Melaya, they discovered something alarming—an enormous accumulation of plastic debris floating near Candikusuma Beach. The sight was overwhelming. It wasn’t just a patch of garbage; it was a massive, drifting wasteland of plastic pollution.
Unit 09 (Dugong) Unit 09 (Dugong) was the first to spot the trash, and as the news spread across the radio, the other units quickly coordinated to converge on the location. The Dugong vessel is supported by the 4ocean Foundation. The crew wasted no time, immediately launching into action, pulling plastic bottles, tarpaulins, fishing nets, and other waste from the water. They had faced significant waste clusters before, but this one was particularly daunting. The sheer volume of pollution underscored the urgency of their work—and what happened next proved just how crucial their mission truly is.
The Dugong (Unit 09)
As the crew worked to clear the waste, they noticed something struggling beneath the tangled debris: a sea turtle, barely able to move. Its limbs were wrapped in discarded fishing lines and plastic waste, preventing it from swimming freely. It was exhausted, weakened from the effort of trying to escape.
Quickly and carefully, the crew pulled the turtle from the debris and brought it onto the boat. It was a Hawksbill sea turtle, a species classified as critically endangered. They named it Domy, after one of the team’s longtime supporters.
But Domy was not alone.
Not long after, another Hawksbill sea turtle was found trapped in the same patch of floating waste. The crew repeated the rescue process, checking for injuries and making sure the turtle was strong enough to return to the water. They named this one Shu.
Then came the biggest surprise. While clearing another section of debris, Wahyudi, one of the team members, thought he had come across a pile of fishing nets. But as he looked closer, he realized there was something alive beneath it—a large Olive Ridley sea turtle. This species, though more common than the Hawksbill, is still considered vulnerable due to habitat destruction and pollution. The turtle had sustained minor injuries to its leg, but it was otherwise in good health. The team named it Joshy before setting it free.
One by one, the crew watched as Joshy, Domy, and Shu swam away, back into their home. The moment was bittersweet. While saving these three turtles was a victory, it was a stark reminder of how human waste threatens marine life every day.
Watch the full rescue below:
With the turtles rescued, the team pressed on. It took nearly three hours to clear the massive debris field, gathering an astounding 3,839.11 pounds of plastic waste from the ocean. Unit 01 collected 555.11 pounds, Unit 02 gathered 585.77 pounds, Unit 03 removed 548.50 pounds, Unit 04 hauled in 1,130 pounds, and Unit 09 retrieved 1,019.73 pounds. The waste included plastic bottles, masks, tarpaulins, and fishing gear—common culprits behind marine entanglement and pollution. Once the cleanup was complete, the crew transferred all the collected debris onto Unit 09’s vessel. Given the volume, they used oversized sacks to speed up the weighing and barcode recording process. For the past two weeks, the team had been working late into the night due to the increased waste during peak pollution season, often finishing as late as 7:00 PM.
Finding sea turtles trapped in plastic is devastating, but it’s also what fuels the team’s determination. “We felt incredibly sad seeing these turtles tangled in trash, struggling to swim. But at the same time, we’re grateful that we were able to rescue them,” one of the crew members shared.
It’s not uncommon for the team to encounter marine animals entangled in plastic, but that doesn’t make it any easier. Every time they pull an animal from the wreckage of human waste, they’re reminded why their work is so important. The more plastic they remove from the ocean, the better the chances of survival for marine life like Joshy, Domy, and Shu.
The crew’s efforts that day were nothing short of heroic, but they know their mission doesn’t end here. Every day, thousands of marine animals face similar dangers due to plastic pollution. By continuing to remove waste from the ocean, educating communities, and advocating for sustainable alternatives, the team at 4ocean is working to create a future where moments like these are no longer necessary.
But they can't do it alone.
If Joshy, Domy, and Shu’s story moved you, take action today. Reduce your plastic use, support ocean conservation efforts, and help us keep our waters safe for all marine life.
