Nets Cast, Marine Waste Retrieved

Fishermen sorted fish from among the waste filling their trawl nets at Purus Beach, Padang, West Sumatra, on Sunday (23/8/2026). Bad weather prevented local fishermen from going out to sea as usual. They then carried out the Maelo Pukek tradition, pulling a trawl net from the shore after it had been cast into the sea using a boat. However, this time the catch was dominated by plastic waste. The condition illustrates the large amount of waste present in the coastal waters of Padang. The Ministry of Environment has stated that plastic and microplastic waste threaten marine ecosystems as well as the fisheries sector and public health.