Indonesia is struggling to deal with plastic waste leakage into its 3.25 million square kilometers of water. This pollution causes a serious problem: marine life is exposed to microplastics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Microplastics are plastic particles measuring 1 micrometer to 5 millimeters. They are up to 1 per 70 times human hair diameter. These invisible particles have unique properties such as absorbing other pollutants. Microplastics can cause disease and threaten marine life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Southeast Asia has some of the highest levels of plastic pollution in the world. This raises concerns about the environment, fish stocks, and resilience to climate change and natural hazards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) collaborated with Divers Clean Action and the Indonesian Bird Conservation Association in a study<\/a> entitled Microbial Transformation of Plastics in Southeast Asian Seas: A Hazard And A Solution, looking at microplastic threats and solutions. The study started in October 2020 and is supported by the University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of policy, the government is trying to deal with microplastics through Presidential Regulation No.83\/2018 on Marine Debris<\/a>. A National Action Plan (NAP) for marine debris handling in 2018-2025 was developed, which became a strategic direction for ministries and institutions to tackle marine debris<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is the full report by Kompas TV supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network through a grant program that supports environmental coverage from island nations in the Asia-Pacific.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here is the full report by Kompas TV supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network through a grant program that supports environmental coverage from island nations in the Asia-Pacific.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part 1:<\/p>\n\n\n\n