MAELSTROM (Smart technology for MArinE Litter SusTainable RemOval and Management) project will be present at UN Ocean Conference from 25 to 29 June.

The MAELSTROM teams from CIIMAR, The Great Bubble Barrier and Venice Lagoon Plastic Free will to promote international action to tackle Marine Litter, organizing several demonstrations and networking moments in three UNOC side events. Two technologies will be demonstrated, all contributing to SDG 14:

The Bubble Barrier system, a technology to capture plastic pollution before it flows into the ocean. The team will present the technology and do a demonstration using a small-scale Bubble Barrier.

The MAELSTROM app, designed to facilitate practitioners in the marine litter management cycle through the identification, collection and tracking.

If you want to know more about the MAELSTROM project and inspiring technologies, follow us on UN Ocean Conference from 25 to 29 June:

June 25th at the exhibition area in the “Special Local and Regional Governments Special Event-2022 United Nations Ocean Conference”, which will take place in the Porto Cruise Terminal, Matosinhos.

June 28th at the “One Sustainable Ocean-Ocean Science & Business2Sea Side Event”, which will take place in the Portugal Pavillion (Pavilhão de Portugal), Park of Nations, Lisbon (Palco Rio; 9h45-10h30 > Portugal Implementing an Innovative Technology to Tackle Plastic Pollution with a Bubble Barrier; 11h-11h45 > Tackling the Marine Litter Management Cycle with the MAELSTROM app). https://onesustainableocean.forumoceano.pt/

June 29th at the “Integrating Marine Litter Monitoring to Inform Action” Official Side Event, which will take place in Cascais.

MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT:

Marine ecosystems are under increasing pressure and, in this context, Marine Litter poses a major threat to environmental and human health, with more than 10 million tons of litter ending up in our oceans every year. About 80% of all marine debris are plastic, including microplastics that can enter in the marine ecosystem’s food chains. This reality results in severe impacts on global ecosystems, people’s health and marine life. The Marine Litter challenge must prompt scientists, governments, industry, environmental groups and citizens to take urgent action and to work together.

The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Lisbon, Portugal, 27 June to 1 July 2022, co-organized by the Governments of Portugal and Kenya, is an opportunity to deliver science-driven innovations and solutions to respond to this environmental emergency. This is also the mission of the MAELSTROM (Smart technology for MArinE Litter SusTainable RemOval and Management) project.

Funded by the European Commission, under the H2020 Programme, the MAELSTROM project brings together a consortium of 14 international partners, including the Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR) from the University of Porto, which aim to investigate and implement innovative technologies, for the identification, collection, recycling and valorization of marine litter. At the same time, the project proposes to create several awareness moments and activities on this topic, with the direct involvement of citizens.