Horizon Europe SeaClear2.0: Scalable Full-Cycle Marine Litter Remediation in the Mediterranean: Robotic and Participatory Solutions

Today’s oceans contain roughly 25 million tons of plastic waste. Over 90% of all marine litter is located on the seafloor, making it difficult and expensive to collect. Every year, up to 600,000 tones of macroplastics and microplastics enter European seas. While plastic pollution affects all seas across Europe, the Mediterranean is the most affected sea, due to its semi-enclosed basin and the intense human activities taking place on the surrounding coastal areas. 

SeaClear2.0 will develop an integrated approach to address the full cycle of marine litter in a way that will help meet the objectives of the Mission to restore, protect and preserve the health of our oceans, seas and waters by 2030, in the context of the Mediterranean sea basin lighthouse of the European Commission.