The Ocean Cleanup designs its systems to minimize the risk of entanglement for marine life, including whales. Our cleanup technology differs from traditional fishing nets in that it moves very slowly—at an average of just 2.8 km/h, roughly the pace of a slow walk—allowing marine mammals like whales to detect and avoid it. Additionally, the system includes built-in escape routes to ensure marine life is not trapped.
Our system is also equipped with high-frequency acoustic pingers, which emit sounds that can be detected by whales, serving as an alert to the presence of the system. In addition, Environmental Observers are onboard our vessels at all times to monitor marine wildlife. In the rare event that a whale approaches the system, operations are promptly paused or adjusted to ensure the animal’s safety.
In the unlikely event that a whale does become entangled, we would follow strict protocols and collaborate with marine wildlife experts to safely release the animal, prioritizing the safety of both the whale and the rescue team. However, it’s important to note that this type of event has never occurred during our operations.