Plastic chokes Indonesian islands as policies, enforcement slip through ghost nets

Indonesia's Anambas Islands are facing a severe environmental crisis due to ghost nets and plastic pollution, which are harming marine life. Campaigners attribute this problem to surging growth-driven consumption. Devina Mariskova, head of Yayasan Anambas, stated that ghost nets are frequently discarded by vessels from surrounding countries, leaving the burden of collection on local coastal communities and conservationists. These nets also trap large marine reptiles like turtles. Mariskova highlighted the difficulty in regulating vessels that throw these nets, indicating a gap between regional pledges and effective enforcement.