Robot Scarecrows and Bubble Barricades: Venice & Portugal’s Battle Against Ocean Plastic

Venice’s Canals Face an Escalating Plastic Crisis

Introduction

Each minute, a volume of plastic waste comparable to a full garbage truck drifts into the world’s oceans. In Venice, this influx threatens the iconic waterways that have captivated lovers and historians for centuries.

The Threat to Marine Life

Scientists predict that by 2040, the amount of plastic sequestered in marine environments could tripling. Such accumulation would not only rupture fragile ecosystems but also disrupt vital food chains and increase the risk of mass fish kills.

The Human Health Connection

Recent investigations reveal microplastics present in human blood, breastmilk, and essential organs. This discovery raises alarms about the long‑term health effects that might emerge from chronic exposure.

What Can Be Done?

• Enhanced Waste Management: Implement stricter controls to prevent plastic from entering waterways, including advanced filtration at sewer outlets.
• Public Awareness Campaigns: Educate citizens and tourists on the impact of tossed litter and encourage responsible disposal.
• Innovative Cleanup Technologies: Deploy specialized nets and drones designed to capture floating debris efficiently.
• Policy and Regulation: Advocate for global commitments to reduce plastic production and promote biodegradable alternatives.

Through coordinated actions across governments, industries, and communities, the delicate balance of Venice’s canals can be preserved for future generations while safeguarding the planet’s broader marine health.

The hidden depths of the plastic problem

The Silent Plague Beneath Water

In many coastal regions the story of plastic loss is far more daunting than surface observations reveal. Large fragments drift downwards, becoming trapped in the ocean floor where they form hidden clusters—patches no eye can see.

Venice’s Vessels of Waste

In the historic waterways of Venice, a growing accumulation of old tyres, fishing nets, and plastic crates poses a severe threat to the delicate ecosystem. The waste, initially large, breaks apart over time, turning into microplastics that infiltrate the food chain and alter marine life patterns.

Challenges of Marine Clean‑Up

• Hazardous Conditions: Divers must navigate through murky, low‑visibility waters, increasing the risk of accidents.
• High Operational Cost: Professional cleaning missions demand advanced gear, skilled personnel, and extended deployment periods.
• Ecological Disturbance: Conventional dredging locomates the seabed, potentially destroying fragile habitats and benefiting the very problem it intends to solve.

Looking Forward

Addressing this under‑water crisis demands novel solutions—technology that can safely retrieve litter without harming ecosystems, coupled with global policies that reduce plastic introduction at the source. Only then can the hidden depths become safe waters again.

A high-tech approach

Maelstrom’s Robot Tackles Plastic Pollution in Venice

Europe’s ambitious Maelstrom project has pioneered a robotic answer to the escalating plastic crisis. By pairing advanced sonar mapping with a state‑of‑the‑art cleanup machine, researchers are revolutionizing how coastal cities tackle underwater litter.

Precise Underwater Mapping

• Italian CNR-ISMAR uses sonar to pinpoint plastic concentrations in the Grand Canal.
• These detailed charts serve as the foundational step toward semi‑automatic debris removal.

The Robotic Cleanup Device

• Operates at depths of up to 20 metres, targeting oversized waste while leaving marine life undisturbed.
• Built on a collaboration between Spain’s Tecnalia (AI) and France’s CNRS‑LIRMM (mechanics).
• During Venice demonstrations, the robot efficiently extracted tyres, fishing nets, and aluminium sheets.

Impact on Coastal Management

Dr. Fantina Madricardo, Maelstrom coordinator, stresses the technology’s broad relevance:

“It is essential to deploy such solutions not only in Venice but across all coastal and port regions. Unaccounted waste near cities is difficult to locate and even harder to recover. When hazardous, sending divers poses serious risks. A robotic system accelerates and secures the cleanup process.”

A curtain of bubbles

Bubble Barrier: A New Shield for the Ave River

Why the Pressurised Foam Matters

Plastic litter from inland waterways is a shared burden for the Atlantic’s seas. In 2024, the coastal town of Vila do Conde teamed with experts from the Maelstrom research program to install a cutting‑edge “bubble shield” on the Ave River. The device consists of a vertical curtain of lifelike bubbles that captures debris before it leaves the estuary, yet remains harmless to fish and boats.

Assessment by Interdisciplinary Marine Scientists

• CIIMAR Researchers – The University of Porto’s Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research collected waste and traced its sources.
• Ecological Monitoring – Professor Isabel Sousa Pinto notes a steady decline in garbage, while also highlighting the need for more time before the entire ecosystem can fully recover and for a clear assessment of the barrier’s impact.
• Ongoing Studies – Scientists are measuring the barrier’s effectiveness and examining any side effects on the estuary’s biodiversity.

The Community Behind the Solution

Vila do Conde did more than fund the project; it coordinated all the stakeholders that made it happen, including:

• Port Authority
• Captaincy
• Portuguese Environment Agency
• Regional Waste Management Association
• Environmental Monitoring and Interpretation Centre – responsible for public outreach and awareness campaigns

What Comes Next

Although initial results show cleaner waters, scientists stress the importance of long‑term observation to determine whether the bubble barrier can truly restore the Ave estuary’s ecosystem.

Discover the Collection

Explore a curated selection of 10 photos that showcase our best moments.

The key to lasting change

Rethinking Ocean Plastic: Prevention Over Cleanup

While the Maelstrom group stresses that removing plastic from the sea is essential, they note that stopping plastics from ever reaching marine ecosystems could be far more impactful.

Strategic Industry Partnerships

• Collaborations with manufacturers to cut down on single‑use plastic.
• Development of biodegradable alternatives and circular supply chains.
• Encouraging companies to adopt eco‑friendly packaging standards.

Community Empowerment Initiatives

• Organized beach clean‑ups engaging volunteers and local residents.
• Educational workshops aimed at raising environmental stewardship.
• Support for grassroots NGOs that monitor and reduce waste influx.

Insights from Research

CIIMAR scientist Luís R. Vieira stresses that tackling marine litter demands more than technology:

• Collective awareness campaigns that highlight plastic’s lifecycle.
• Shared responsibility across governments, businesses, and citizens.
• Proactive waste‑management practices to keep refuse out of ocean currents.

Looking Ahead

By prioritizing prevention and fostering a shared commitment to responsibility, we pave the way towards seas free of plastic debris.