3 ms·

I have been tracking them since early 2014, and I follow their video updates regularly. I'm surprised at how many scientists and experienced people are concern

I have been tracking them since early 2014, and I follow their video updates regularly. I'm surprised at how many scientists and experienced people are concerned about the booms harming marine life. If you see this video, you'll understand that they're sweeping and shepherding surface-level plastic in a boom. If a turtle or dolphin were to swim into the collection area, then the creature can easily swim out or beneath the booms. Indeed, non-living plastic too is slipping out beneath the boom (what this article itself infoms us!)! I recently saw their video [1] where they showed how they've been able to detect that some (not "all", like this article insinuates) plastic has slipped under the boom. They tried some things on the spot, like bringing the boom ends closer, raising the boom arms, etc. This is a video that they had themselves published, and is thereofre hardly a "scoop" or an exposé. See also their FAQ, that they update regularly. For e.g. they intend to visit each boom once in six weeks, cleaning up, revising future designs based on lessons learned, etc, thus preventing the boom from becoming a Fish Aggregating Device. Their techonology page [3] is also informative. I urge HN readers to please review the videos and the FAQ, and not just conclude based on one article. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1EAeNdTFHU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1EAeNdTFHU [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcRIE98y_UM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcRIE98y_UM [2] https://www.theoceancleanup.com/faq/# https://www.theoceancleanup.com/faq/# [3] https://www.theoceancleanup.com/technology/ https://www.theoceancleanup.com/technology/

cultus 8y ago
This project cannot work. Here's some information written by an actual oceanographer: http://www.deepseanews.com/2014/07/the-ocean-cleanup-part-2-technical-review-of-the-feasibility-study/ http://www.deepseanews.com/2014/07/the-ocean-cleanup-part-2-... http://www.deepseanews.com/2016/06/the-ocean-cleanup-deployed-a-prototype-and-i-honestly-have-a-lot-of-questions/ http://www.deepseanews.com/2016/06/the-ocean-cleanup-deploye... In the marine community, this project is a punchline.
- coryfklein 8y ago
  > This project cannot work. This assessment is not supported by the links you posted. Here is a summary of the critiques you linked. * They are using RO-BOOMS, a proven tech since 1988 for oil cleanups * They are painted black, which makes them hard to see * When testing the booms at the Marin Facility, waves would cause gaps underneath where garbage could pass through the barrier * They haven't tested them yet to see whether they collect plastic * The author couldn't find the public proposal * Many of the above comments are now admitted to be out of date * Author believes the momentum from the project could lead to real change but some changes are needed for a workable solution * Author desires transparency * No scientific reviews have been done on the project * Sections of the feasibility study require editing * The feasibility study doesn't account for extreme ocean currents * The feasibility study doesn't prove it will work * Doesn't capture plastic at depth * Further testing and analysis is needed * Biofouling hasn't been solved yet * Available advanced computer simulation software was not used in the design * Some sections of the feasibility study are out of date due to design changes * More than one ship will be required * Several design hurdles haven't been overcome yet * Legal issues regarding bycatch haven't been resolved While certainly many of these are valid, they are also pretty much what one would suspect from early stage modelling, prototyping, and testing. The authors you linked actually deem the project worth the time of providing professional critical feedback, and they believe that the momentum can lead to real workable solutions.

cultus 8y ago

This project cannot work. Here's some information written by an actual oceanographer: http://www.deepseanews.com/2014/07/the-ocean-cleanup-part-2-technical-review-of-the-feasibility-study/ http://www.deepseanews.com/2014/07/the-ocean-cleanup-part-2-... http://www.deepseanews.com/2016/06/the-ocean-cleanup-deployed-a-prototype-and-i-honestly-have-a-lot-of-questions/ http://www.deepseanews.com/2016/06/the-ocean-cleanup-deploye... In the marine community, this project is a punchline.

coryfklein 8y ago
> This project cannot work. This assessment is not supported by the links you posted. Here is a summary of the critiques you linked. * They are using RO-BOOMS, a proven tech since 1988 for oil cleanups * They are painted black, which makes them hard to see * When testing the booms at the Marin Facility, waves would cause gaps underneath where garbage could pass through the barrier * They haven't tested them yet to see whether they collect plastic * The author couldn't find the public proposal * Many of the above comments are now admitted to be out of date * Author believes the momentum from the project could lead to real change but some changes are needed for a workable solution * Author desires transparency * No scientific reviews have been done on the project * Sections of the feasibility study require editing * The feasibility study doesn't account for extreme ocean currents * The feasibility study doesn't prove it will work * Doesn't capture plastic at depth * Further testing and analysis is needed * Biofouling hasn't been solved yet * Available advanced computer simulation software was not used in the design * Some sections of the feasibility study are out of date due to design changes * More than one ship will be required * Several design hurdles haven't been overcome yet * Legal issues regarding bycatch haven't been resolved While certainly many of these are valid, they are also pretty much what one would suspect from early stage modelling, prototyping, and testing. The authors you linked actually deem the project worth the time of providing professional critical feedback, and they believe that the momentum can lead to real workable solutions.