CLEAR BLUE SEA

To achieve our mission of ocean cleanup, Clear Blue Sea has implemented a multi-disciplinary approach that includes: 1. Supporting Marine Plastic Research. CBSea collaborates with the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) on multiple initiatives, including utilizing FRED to clean up plastic in the Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh Reserve in San Diego, California; gathering samples of microfibers in San Diego waters; and collaborating with the Scripps Engineering Division on the selection of FRED's marine sensors for the collection of specific oceanographic data and samples. 2. Educating the Public on the Ocean Plastics Crisis. CBSea has informed more than 1,800 K-12 and college students on ocean plastics and remediation innovations through class presentations, workshops, and internship projects. With guidance from academic partners we develop educational materials about the ocean plastic crisis, the need for greater recycling, and our FRED innovation. 3. Advocating for Ocean Conservancy. CBSea focuses on community programs and events, including briefings to local government and interest groups, addressing the scope and impact of ocean plastic on our ecosystems and economic sectors. We engage with public, academic, and conservancy audiences through activities such as beach cleanups, presentations at conferences, and social media outreach. 4. Innovating Ocean Cleanup Solutions. To date, CBSea has sponsored 240+ high school and college interns to design, build, test, and demonstrate these four FRED prototypes: a. Two small-scale 6-foot FRED operational prototypes b. One mid-scale 16-foot FRED prototype, leveraging donated catamaran hulls for its vessel platform c. One FRED operational model designed to demonstrate the viability of a FRED Do-It-Yourself (FREDDY) implementation program. The FREDDY program will enable any high school robotics club or community conservancy organization around the world to build their own FRED and deploy the robot to clean up its local marine environments 5. Remediating Polluted Marine Environments in Rivers, Bays, Coastlines, and Oceans. CBSea successfully tested our 16-foot FRED prototype in March 2020. However, the advent of COVID-19 forced us to halt hands-on FRED build efforts in our warehouse and transition to working remotely. While CBSea continued work on FRED design, social media outreach, web development, and business management, we were unable to continue in-person FRED demonstrations and operations. In 2021, with COVID-19 safety protocols in place, our marine plastic pollution remediation efforts are back underway and are focused on the KFMB Marsh Reserve.