MVI was contracted to provide protected species monitoring, mitigation, and reporting services for The Ocean Cleanup (TOC) project beginning with the first system deployment in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in July 2021 and continuing through 18 consecutive campaigns over a three-year period. The project is a unique, ongoing international initiative focused on removing plastic pollution from the world’s oceans through the deployment of large, purpose-built net systems towed simultaneously by two vessels.
MVI and its team of dedicated Environmental Observers (EOs) played a key role in developing the processes and procedures required for effective environmental and protected species mitigation, data collection, and reporting. As the project evolved with the introduction of new technologies and collection systems, MVI EOs provided critical field-based feedback on system design and operational performance, directly informing the development and refinement of protected species mitigation methodologies. MVI EOs used a vessel-mounted infrared camera system (IR), night vision devices (NVDs), AI-assisted underwater cameras, and drones during the project. MVI also delivered specialized training to its EOs, including comprehensive biological sampling techniques and protocols, and provided subject matter experts to review EO-collected data and offer technical guidance as needed.