
In 2018, GoPro for a Cause championed The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization with the objective of ridding the world's oceans of plastic. GoPro was there for the launch of The Ocean Cleanup's first ocean cleanup system, which was deployed from San Francisco Bay on a bold mission to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. As of June 3, 2022, The Ocean Cleanup has removed more than 1.2M kg of trash from oceans and rivers worldwide.
And there's much more work to be done. The Ocean Cleanup aims to tackle 1,000 of the world's most polluting rivers in order to reduce the flow of plastic into the ocean.
The latest project is in Guatemala's Rio Motagua basin, where an unnatural phenomenon occurs during each year's rainy season. A trash tsunami propels enormous quantities of plastic into tributaries and rivers, and eventually into the Caribbean Sea. That's up to 20M kg of plastic flowing into the Caribbean Sea-every year.
The situation on the Rio Motagua calls for innovative ideas and a specific solution for a specific problem. The Ocean Cleanup is working with local authorities in the region to improve waste management and to stop the trash tsunami with a new system: the Interceptor Trashfence, which they have named Interceptor 006. On May 26, 2022, the Trashfence was given its first real-world test during the first flash flood of the rainy season.
The Ocean Cleanup crew members Florent Beauverd (Head of Creative and Documentary Productions) and Dan van der Kooy (Executive Producer of Documentary Content) take us behind the scenes to tell us more about this catastrophic yearly event, and what they're doing to stop the flow of plastic into the sea.
GoPro: Tell us about the trash tsunami. What causes it?
The Ocean Cleanup: The Rio Motagua is the largest river in Guatemala, stretching from the highlands in the west down to the Caribbean Sea in the east. What makes the Rio Motagua situation unique is that an urban landfill sits literally on top of one of its tributaries, the Rio Las Vacas. Like many other rivers in the region, the Rio Motagua also suffers from unlicensed waste dumping.
During the rainy season, these factors lead to exceptionally heavy flows of trash-a trash tsunami-flowing into the river every year, adding to the plastic pollution problem in the Caribbean Sea. We estimate that more than 20M kg of plastic flows through the Rio Motagua basin on an annual basis. This amounts to roughly 2% of the world's overall plastic emissions to the oceans.
What is the Interceptor Trashfence?
The Interceptor Trashfence is an experimental system developed to address the specific nature of the pollution problem in the Rio Las Vacas. Its a custom-engineered steel screen measuring a massive 50 meters wide, 8 meters tall and spanning the entire river gorge developed over several years with technical partners and local authorities. In May 2022, we began our first trial of the Interceptor Trashfence on the Rio Las Vacas tributary in the Rio Motagua Basin.
The Interceptor Trashfence faced its first trash tsunami on May 26. Initially the fence held back the torrent of plastic, but ultimately gave way under the heavy force of so much trash. However, we learned a huge amount from this first trial, and we always knew this would be an experimental process. We're going to optimize the design and deployment to improve the system and prevent these trash tsunamis reaching the oceans. For example, we're considering raising the height of the fence and potentially installing more than one Interceptor Trashfence system on the Rio Las Vacas.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by The Ocean Cleanup (@theoceancleanup)
--
Why did you choose GoPro?
For this specific project in Guatemala, we needed to find a way to capture on video an extremely sudden (and unpredictable) flash flood that generates a trash tsunami. Although this location is particularly difficult to get to, we needed to record high-quality footage to show the urgency of this phenomenon to the world, and how we are trying to tackle it. We relied on GoPros for this project for three reasons: simplicity of use, high quality of footage and reliability in all weather conditions.
We've been using GoPros for a wide variety of applications over the years, from getting impossible creative shots allowing us to visualize and share our work in more compelling ways to using GoPros as a scientific tool for gathering data. GoPro cameras have become part of our toolkit for understanding the problem of plastic pollution and visualizing how we solve it.
What's next for The Ocean Cleanup?
To rid the oceans of plastic, we need to clean up what is already out there and stop new plastic from entering the ocean-we need to close the tap. Working together with government leaders, individuals and private corporations, our goal is to tackle the 1,000 most polluting rivers all over the world.
More trash tsunamis will rush through the Rio Motagua throughout the rainy season. We're working with local authorities in the region to improve waste management and we will continue to improve our Interceptor Trashfence system to stop the flow of plastic to the Caribbean Sea.
How can the GoPro Community help The Ocean Cleanup tackle this issue?
Supporters are welcome to learn about our Interceptor Trashfence project in Guatemala by reading this update. You can also track our worldwide impact in real time. And you can donate to The Ocean Cleanup here.
You can learn more about getting involved with GoPro for a Cause here.
More from GoPro
20/05/2023
What is the Best GoPro Tripod?
When youre traveling around the world and having new experiences, you need a tripod that can hold up wherever the journey takes ...
20/05/2023
What's the size of a soccer ball, swims quite fast and is more elusive than Big Foot? The Chirodectes macalatus Box jellyfish of course! Captured on GoPro...
16/05/2023
Last month, we joined forces with Travel Alaska to create the ultimate Alaskan bucket list adventure, bringing travel aficionados and creators from across North...
16/05/2023
What is the Best Travel Camera?
Whether youre a backpacker looking for adventure or a suitcase-toting city traveler, your camera is a must-pack travel essentia...
16/05/2023
How to Use Your GoPro as a Helmet Camera
Whether you're mountain biking, cycling cross country, cruising on your motorcycle, skiing down a mountain, flying...
10/05/2023
Just in time for your summer adventures, were restoring our camera lineup to lower, pre-pandemic prices. Effective worldwide today at GoPro retailers and on GoP...
26/04/2023
We at GoPro are thrilled and honored to have HERO11 Black be awarded a 2023 Edison Award. The latest flagship camera took home the Bronze in the Personal Techno...
25/04/2023
On Earth Day, we're honoring our home planet in the best way GoPro knows how-a video.
We invite you to sit back, crank your sound up and take a few moments...
25/04/2023
The following words and images are by Imaging Solutions Technical Program Manage...
19/04/2023
In recognition of Earth Month, were catching up with Sustainable Surf-a nonprofi...
13/04/2023
When youre on the road, you need a backpack that keeps your belongings organized, secure and protected from the elements without holding you back. The best trav...
13/04/2023
The whole point of hiking is to enjoy the outdoors. That means unplugging from the noise of your smartphone, it means living in the present moment, and most of ...
13/04/2023
Waterfall drops with your kayak camera arent just thrilling, they are life-changing and, with a waterproof camera along for the ride, your friends get a look at...
13/04/2023
Whether its wheelie races, shredding the local track or sunset cruising that revs you up, adding a GoPro motorcycle camera will ensure that you can relive the m...
13/04/2023
From road biking to track cycling, mountain biking to BMX, theres never a dull moment when youre riding your trusty two-wheeler. Its capturing the excitement-in...
13/04/2023
What Is The Best GoPro Camera for Surfing?
Surfing is a solo art form. The ritual of getting up at dawn, throwing on a wetsuit and bracing the crisp ocean wate...
13/04/2023
Whether you're fly fishing, spinning or trolling or-when you reel in the Big One, it comes with a story to tell and an even better one to show. That's w...
13/04/2023
Whether you're a surfer, swimmer, snorkeler, Sea-Doo-er or just plain love water, getting awesome underwater video is the ultimate way to share your submers...
13/04/2023
Boating, beach days, pool parties, lake life, you name the fun-filled location and we've got a wonderful new hat for you to sport. We've teamed up with ...
11/04/2023
GoPro is teaming up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to bring a group of creators to Thailand to experience one of the worlds largest water festival...
10/04/2023
When Francis Zuber left his house in Bellingham, Wash., March 3 to ski his local mountain, Mt. Baker, it started out like any normal day trip. It was an easy ho...
04/04/2023
Happy Earth Month!
We're constantly in awe of the beauty that Mother Earth offers us every day and want to see this beauty through your lens, so we are ki...
04/04/2023
Legend has it that the GoPro media team created a disappearing pole mount at one point and coined it the narwal mount (inspired by a narwhale). For years Go...
30/03/2023
In celebration of Women's History Month, we're shining the spotlight on ...
30/03/2023
We're thrilled to announce that GoPro has landed on Newsweek's list of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America-for the second year in a row!
The awar...
30/03/2023
GoPro Labs is the best way for GoPro enthusiasts to try out features you simply can't get straight out of the box. In fact, since it launched in 2020, it...
22/03/2023
We're thrilled to welcome two-time Japanese trial bike champion Tomomi Nishikubo to the team.
Tomomi is known for laying down some truly gravity-defying tr...
06/03/2023
If you've noticed more women popping up across GoPro's social channels, your eyes are not deceiving you. March is Women's History Month, and to cele...
22/02/2023
Since The Ocean Cleanups founding in 2013, theyve pioneered methods and technolo...
12/02/2023
The HERO11 Black + Mini Million Dollar Challenge is underway, and we want to help your submissions catch the attention of our editors and ultimately earn you an...
07/02/2023
The HERO11 Black + Mini Million Dollar Challenge is underway, and we want to help your submissions catch the attention of our editors and ultimately earn you an...
02/02/2023
The time has come! The 2023 GoPro Mountain Games event registration is now LIVE. Sign up today to be a part of one of the country's largest celebrations of ...
02/02/2023
Firmware update v2.10 is now available for HERO11 Black Mini. This update brings Pro 3.5mm Mic Adapter support to our most durable action camera to date along w...
27/01/2023
At the end of 2022, cyclists Ryan Torres and Leo Tenenblat embarked on an expedition to bike over 500 miles across the Atacama desert, into the Andes mountains,...
26/01/2023
It's back! Starting today, GoPro Awards is kicking off its biggest challenge of the year-the Million Dollar Challenge.
Open exclusively to owners of the ne...
24/01/2023
GoPro Quik app users on can now submit directly to GoPro Awards via the app in a few short steps.
Simply sign into your GoPro Account, select the award-worthy ...
22/01/2023
Does the thought of exploring the Alaskan backcountry spike your Pulse?
We're partnering with Pulseline Adventure this season to give a lucky #GoProSnow w...
10/01/2023
The 2023 Monster Energy Supercross season will kick off tonight in Anaheim, Calif., at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. And as we prep for the organized chaos and skil...
22/12/2022
Firmware update v2.00 is now available for HERO11 Black Mini. This update brings Max Lens Mod support to our most durable action camera to date as well as addit...
14/12/2022
Starting with a clich like big things come in small package isn't usually our jam, but danggot, it's true. HERO11 Black Mini is here, and it's a ...
14/12/2022
Firmware update v2.0 is available for HERO11 Black starting today. This update unlocks incredible 10-bit color to 4K video at 120 frames per second. Not only do...
12/12/2022
In the wide world of motorsports, few companies have made as big of an impact on...
12/12/2022
New year, new camera, new tricks, amirite? The new HERO11 Black and HERO11 Black Mini aren't just video monsters, they've also got some artistic prowess...
02/12/2022
In the world of adventure-seeking, GoPro has long been a leader in capturing and sharing incredible experiences. And with help from Open GoPro, an initiative th...
29/11/2022
This is the time of year when nonprofits around the world celebrate #GivingTuesday-a big day in the biggest fundraising period of the year.
The underlying purp...
23/11/2022
Powder days are ahead and the #GoProSnow Challenge is baaack!
Whether you're needling through trees or climbing mountain peaks in the backcountry, grab you...
22/11/2022
Starting today, the GoPro Quik app now has a Lens Tool that allows you to change between Digital Lens options in post-production for content captured on HERO11 ...
21/11/2022
At GoPro, we strive to be a force for positivity, celebrating all things awesome...
21/11/2022
Brush off your business cards CES 2023 is right around the corner. And with that, the Consumer Technology Association has announced the CES 2023 Innovation Aw...
15/11/2022
We are ecstatic to be recognized by Outside Magazine as one of the 50 Best Place...