Developers of a 600m long free-floating boom to collect plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch have reported a successful trial after an earlier setback when the boom broke. The boon acts as a barrier floating on the surface with a three metre-deep (10ft) screen below it, which is intended to trap some of the 1.8tn pieces of plastic while letting marine life escape. The device is fitted with transmitters and sensors so it can communicate its position via satellites to a vessel that will collect the gathered rubbish every few months.
There has been some controversy about the incidental trapping of marine life which the ocean cleanup team responded to early in the year and concerns have been raised again. An interesting dilemma.