Sailors Join Forces to Combat Plastic Pollution in Pacific Cup

The Pacific Cup integrates a mission to combat ocean plastic pollution. The Ocean Cleanup calls on competitors to enhance marine ecosystem protection by installing AI cameras and smart buoys during their return leg from Hawaii to San Francisco. This initiative targets the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP), the world's largest concentration of ocean plastic, which is twice the size of Texas.

Sailors must equip their vessels with Automated Debris Imaging Systems (ADIS), compact cameras that automatically detect and classify marine debris using machine-learning technology. The cameras transmit data back to The Ocean Cleanup headquarters in Rotterdam, aiding in the identification of plastic hotspots for future cleanup operations.

The GPGP is estimated to hold around 100,000 tons of plastic, primarily ghost nets and fishing gear. Bob Hinden, Commodore of the Pacific Cup Yacht Club, emphasizes the importance of addressing the increasing plastic problem witnessed during races.

Dr. Peter Puskic, Senior Field Scientist at The Ocean Cleanup, highlights the pilot program's success and aims to scale it up through the Pacific Cup. The organization has removed nearly 500,000 kg of plastic from the GPGP over the last decade. Non-participants can also contribute by logging plastic sightings using the citizen science app.