SHELLS AND CORALS AS SOUVENIRS — AND WHY THE GILI ISLANDS ARE SAYING “NOT ANYMORE”
AUTHOR: S.T. DATE: November 2025
The Gili Islands are known for their turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, and vibrant coral reefs… but also, increasingly, for what’s missing from their shores.For years, tourists pocketed shells and coral fragments as keepsakes of their island holidays. Market stalls across Lombok and Bali still display rows of bleached coral, polished cowries, and giant clam shells, the kind of souvenirs that look eco-friendly, natural, and harmless enough.
Yet beneath the surface, those pretty trinkets come at a cost.
What You Can Still Find on the Shore
That said, part of the fascination remains — and rightfully so. Walking along Gili Meno’s tide line, you can still spot spectacular natural specimens:
• Cowrie shells, once used as currency, their smooth, porcelain-like finish still gleaming in the sun.
• Cone shells, with geometric patterns so intricate they seem engineered.
• Turban shells, spiraled like tiny planets, sometimes glinting with iridescent nacre.
• Coral fragments, bleached by time, shaped like fans, antlers, or tiny trees — remnants of once-living reefs.
Responsible Travel: How to Be a Respectful Guest
If you want to experience the Gilis’ marine beauty responsibly, here are a few simple steps:
• Admire, don’t acquire. Take photos or sketch what you find. Apps like iNaturalist help identify shells and coral species.
• Buy consciously. Avoid market stalls selling coral or shells, even if labeled “dead coral” or “ethically sourced.”
• Join local initiatives. The Gili Eco Trust and other initiatives often host reef cleanups and eco events open to visitors.
• Share awareness. If you see others collecting shells, gently explain why it matters to leave them behind.
Why It Matters
The Gili Islands’ beauty is rooted in their balance — between land and sea, people and nature. Keeping that balance requires participation from everyone who visits.
Taking one shell might seem insignificant, but in ecosystems as small and vulnerable as these, it’s part of a much larger picture. The more we learn about that connection, the better chance we have of keeping the Gilis as they are: wild, vibrant, and alive.
Why the Shells Are There — and Why They Matter
Every shell and coral fragment that washes ashore plays a role in the island’s ecosystem. Empty shells become temporary homes for hermit crabs and other small organisms. Coral fragments help slow beach erosion and form the base of the sand itself.
“People think they’re just taking a dead piece of coral or a shell that washed up,” says a local who spent his whole life on the Gilis. “But everything here is part of a cycle. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
On islands as small as the Gilis, even small changes in the shoreline ecosystem can have visible effects. The loss of coral and shell material, combined with rising sea levels and stronger tides, can accelerate erosion… Something the Gilis have already been fighting for years.
From Souvenir to Scarcity
Collecting shells used to be considered a normal, even romantic, part of a tropical holiday. But today, it’s one of the quieter contributors to marine degradation.
Indonesia has strict laws protecting coral reefs and marine life, including bans on collecting, selling, or exporting shells and corals (whether living or dead). Customs officers at Bali and Lombok (among other islands) airports have even begun confiscating coral souvenirs from travelers, many of whom don’t realize they’re doing anything wrong.
“Most people just don’t know,” explains a member from the Gili Eco Trust. “They think it’s sustainable if the coral isn’t alive. But the truth is, every piece removed disrupts a natural process.”
A New Attitude on the Gilis
Local businesses are increasingly aware of the issue. Dive centers, beach cafés, and eco resorts have started including short information posts for guests. Posters in dive shops explain why it’s important to leave shells and coral where they are. The Gili Eco Trust, one of the leading conservation groups in the area, has worked with local authorities to establish reef restoration programs and artificial reef structures made from metal domes that encourage coral regrowth.
“Education has changed the culture here,” says one dive operator from a well-established dive club. “Ten years ago, people would fill bags with shells. Now most visitors understand why we ask them not to. They take photos instead — and that’s progress.”
