September 2025 WATERLINE | 25 to rotate paddles that lift floating debris from the water and deposit it into a dumpster. Its whimsical appearance, complete with googly eyes, has helped raise public awareness and community engagement around waterway pollution. mrtrashwheel.com JELLYFISHBOT BY IADYS Jellyfishbot is a small robot that collects waste and oil on the surface of water bodies. Autonomous, robust and easy to use, it allows the users to clean hard-to-reach areas safely and can be remotely operated. Its 80 litre capacity nets collect both floating macro-waste and microplastics and can also be filled with absorbents to collect oil. Equipped with sensors, it can measure water quality (temperature, salinity, turbidity, cyanobacteria and phytoplankton concentrations) and perform bathymetric surveys up to 20m deep. It is also able to deploy a boom, useful to contain hydrocarbons. iadys.com TRASH SKIMMERS AND DRONES Aquatic drones and skimmers are becoming more prevalent for their versatility and mobility. Devices like Clearbot and RanMarine's WasteShark can be remotely controlled or follow programmed paths to collect trash in hard-to-reach areas such as canals, ports, and harbours. These autonomous machines can also collect data on pollution levels, helping researchers monitor environmental health. clearbot.org ranmarine.io TRASH TRAPS AND NETS Designed for stormwater drains and outflows, trash traps and nets catch debris before it enters rivers or coastal areas. In Australia, cities like Kwinana, WA have installed net traps that can collect over 400kg of waste per season from just one drain. These are low-cost, easy to install, and incredibly effective in preventing litter from reaching waterways. BOOMS AND BARRIERS Booms and barriers are passive collection systems that float on the water’s surface to direct or trap floating debris. Often used in conjunction with other devices like skimmers or Interceptors, these barriers are cost-effective and ideal for rivers or near-shore areas. Some are equipped with sensors or smart technology to alert when they are full or require maintenance. LIVING SEAWALLS It is essential marinas continue to set the highest environmental standards. With around 70% of boats used for recreational fishing, clean waterways and healthy fish populations will contribute to the ongoing appeal of boating and fishing. Living Seawalls modular panels are designed to enhance and benefit marine life. Each innovative habitat is specifically designed to enhance a particular type of marine structure. Research has shown that in areas where oysters and mussels have flourished, biodiversity has increased, and water quality has improved through the removal of particles from the water. The designs are the outcome of decades of marine research and support multi-species biodiversity in a wide range of marine environments. Habitat units can be installed bare, or with key species such as oysters or seaweeds attached to their surface, to accelerate development of diverse and functional ecological communities. The design, size and shape can be tailored to the needs of specific locations. livingseawalls.com.au CONCLUSION Cleaning our waterways is a massive undertaking and we are continuing to see the development of new products that can be used in marina settings to make a real difference. By combining innovation, sustainability, and community involvement, environmental protection initiatives help protect aquatic ecosystems and reduce the harmful impact of pollution on marine life and human health. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect even more efficient and scalable solutions to emerge, bringing us closer to cleaner, healthier waterways around the globe. CALL TO ACTION Take a look at the variety of water waste removal products available and consider which may be most suitable in your marina facility. Once installed, promote the initiative and how you as an organisation are participating in waterway clean-up efforts and contributing to improving environmental outcomes. This helps to keep environmental responsibility top of mind and hopefully embed it into the users of your marina and your local community. Every piece of plastic removed from a river today is one less piece reaching the ocean tomorrow. FEATURE DOCKSIDE UTILITIES Clearbot Jellyfishbot Living Seawalls Mr Trash Wheel WasteShark
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