Shark Bite #13

Welcome to Shark Bite #13.

The Dutch are blowing bubbles to keep plastic out of the ocean

Yes, seriously. 

A Dutch startup, aptly named “The Great Bubble Barrier,” is blowing bubbles in rivers to prevent plastic from reaching the ocean. 

Compressed air is pushed through a perforated tube at the bottom of the ocean, creating bubbles. As the bubbles rise toward the surface, they carry plastic with them. With a little help from the river current, the plastic flows to one side of the river where it is collected. 

The “technology” showed promise after a test in the Oude Rijn river. And the team has convinced several other regions in the Netherlands to invest in these bubble barriers. 

If this works at scale, we’re looking at a huge win for ocean conservation. 

Ironically enough, I’m writing this from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on a 6-hour layover.

Greenpeace drops really big rocks to stop trawlers in the UK

One of our favorite (and disruptive) conservation organizations, Greenpeace, dropped 18 boulders in the South West Deeps to stop industrial fishing boats from operating in the region.

The boulders, weighing up to 3000 pounds, are supposed to make it “impossible” for trawlers to operate in the Marine Conservation Zone. 

The UK government has called this move “potentially illegal.” Well, so is fishing in a Marine Conservation Zone. Greenpeace responded with “we’d rather the government just do their job.”

We’re big fans of this move by Greenpeace – the government wasn’t enforcing fishing regulations so they stepped in. 

But Greenpeace isn’t perfect. What’s that they say about throwing stones in a glass house?

See you next time.

Kai

Co-Founder