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Ocean Plastic AI Monitoring Technology
Plastic pollution in aquatic environments has become one of the most pervasive environmental crises of our time. Rivers and coastal zones serve as major conduits for waste entering the ocean, yet the data on what’s being collected—how much, where, and of what type—remains fragmentary and inconsistent. Without accurate, scalable monitoring, we cannot effectively evaluate the impact of cleanup efforts or guide policy and accountability measures. Manual waste quantification on cleanup vessels is labor-intensive, prone to error, and ultimately limits the ability to build data-driven responses to this global issue.
Meanwhile, the disconnect between waste removal and scientific insight hampers the evolution of next-generation cleanup strategies. Despite technological advances in collection—like the SeaCleaners’ Mobula vessels—these solutions still lack automated intelligence to track their performance and inform systemic change. A growing consensus recognizes that we must shift from reactive cleanup to proactive, information-rich interventions that identify waste flows, guide resource allocation, and ultimately support circular economies and producer responsibility frameworks. Bridging this gap between robotics and data is essential for scaling real impact.
tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean every year
In response to this challenge, ARC and The SeaCleaners are joining forces to pilot an AI-powered waste monitoring system aboard the Mobula 10 cleanup vessel. By integrating ARC’s ARCAM technology—already proven in riverine environments—directly into a working plastic collection platform, the partnership will enable real-time, automated tracking of debris types and volumes. This proof-of-concept marks the first step toward data-driven cleanup operations, offering insights that can refine collection strategies, support extended producer responsibility, and foster smarter regulatory responses. If successful, the system will lay the foundation for a future where every piece of removed plastic not only cleans the environment but contributes to a traceable, tokenized circular economy.
“What gets measured gets changed—ARC and SeaCleaners are turning data into a driving force for ocean restoration.”
By linking robotic collection with intelligent monitoring, this partnership redefines how we tackle plastic pollution—from guesswork to precision, from isolated action to integrated insight. It plants the seeds of a future where cleanup efforts are transparent, traceable, and catalytic—fueling not just cleaner waters, but systemic change across industries and borders.
