Timorese youngsters Micky and Mardy have been doing their bit to protect the marine environment on the island of Atauro. They have set up a group, Ekipa Tasi Mos (Clean Ocean Team), which organizes regular beach clean-ups, and they record their findings in an international marine debris database, allowing the community to trace the pollution back to its original source. After collection and recording, the plastics are then recycled and transformed into beautiful products that can be sold as local handicrafts.
Ekipa Tasi Mos — Clean Ocean Team
Atauro Island sits at the heart of the Coral Triangle, one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet. Keeping its shores clean is not just an environmental cause — it is essential for the island’s growing eco-tourism industry and for the fishing communities who depend on healthy reefs.
By logging every piece of debris they collect in an international database, Micky, Mardy, and the rest of the team create a traceable record that links litter found on Atauro’s beaches to its point of origin. This data helps researchers and local authorities understand how ocean currents carry waste and where prevention efforts are most needed.
Turning Waste into Handicrafts
What makes the Ekipa Tasi Mos initiative particularly inspiring is its circular approach: collected plastics are recycled and turned into handmade products sold as local souvenirs. Visitors to Atauro can support the team’s work simply by purchasing these handicrafts — each piece carries a story of ocean stewardship and community resilience.
Photo courtesy World Bank