Experiments with drones for marine debris clean-up in Tottori

Sea and Japan Project in Tottori, partnering with Yurihama Town in Tottori Prefecture and the Tottori Prefecture Central Cleaning Business Cooperative, carried out a groundbreaking experiment on June 6. The experiment involved the use of drones to remove marine debris from hard-to-reach coastal locations.

This innovative endeavor was part of the marine debris countermeasures project, “Sea and Japan Project/CHANGE FOR THE BLUE,” an initiative championed by the Nippon Foundation.

The project sought to employ drones, the latest in technological advancement, to lift marine debris from cliff bottoms, traditionally challenging spots for debris collection. Until this point, such locations required the use of specialized cranes or considerable manual effort to remove the debris.

The June 6 experiment involved the successful use of drones to airlift marine debris from the foot of cliffs, a first in the project’s scope of activities. By continuously demonstrating the utility and effectiveness of drones, the project aimed to streamline the process of marine debris collection, reducing the physical burden traditionally associated with such efforts.

By setting a precedent for the use of drone technology in environmental clean-up activities, the project not only aimed to improve the efficiency of debris collection but also to expand its capabilities in safeguarding marine environments.