POSITIVE CORNER #12: European Consortium Cleans our Ocean Floors - with High-Tech

We may think plastic waste in our oceans is mainly floating at the surface. A much bigger problem, however, seems to be the waste that sinks down to the ocean floor. If not removed, it stays there for a long time, gradually becoming microplastic that invades our food chain and that can hardly be removed at this state any more.

The EU has launched the "Restore our Oceans & Water" mission which has brought together 13 highly renowned universities and tech leaders from 9 countries tackling the issue within the SeaClear 2.0 initiative.

ref. https://www.seaclear2.eu/

The technology uses drones and robots to effectively detect and collect waste on the ocean floor. The development phase of the technology is about to end this year with a number of tests currently being carried out at different locations. The consortium plans to soon roll-out the technology internationally in order to make a major contribution to achieving the EU mission's goal to have our oceans restored by 2030.

source: https://www.seaclear2.eu/robots-for-the-ocean-together-we-seaclear2-0/

Joining forces, interrelating expertise and using innovative tech approaches for the common good are an important part of the roadmap to preserve our natural environment as is does not know national borders. SeaClear 2.0 is a role-model for the potential we hold for co-operation across borders - physical and mental.