SeaClear2.0 contributes to the EU Mission ‘Restore our Ocean & Waters’ by developing an integrated approach to address the full cycle of marine litter. The project is developing a team of autonomous robots that use machine learning to detect and collect marine litter, including large and heavy items, from the seabed. SeaClear2.0’s technological innovations will be tested and showcased through pilots and demonstrations at six diverse locations in the Mediterranean and beyond. During these tests, the composition of the collected litter will be analysed to identify sorting and repurposing solutions in line with the circular economy. SeaClear2.0 fosters a sense of collective responsibility towards ocean preservation through participatory social innovation activities. The project will work with local communities at the six pilot and demonstration sites to raise awareness about the issue of marine litter and identify site-specific solutions to prevent marine litter pollution. Policy analysis coupled with feedback from key stakeholders and decision-makers will result in the development of recommendations for better policies at the local and European levels for the prevention of marine litter and the uptake of relevant technological innovations.
