The Long Beach recently announced the deployment of a remotely controlled debris-collecting device to clean the Long Beach marina waters.
Able to remove up to 100 pounds of debris from surface-level water during each excursion, the Jellyfishbot made its debut mission on Monday.
“The Jellyfishbot is an innovative resource that supports our commitment to environmental stewardship and ensuring our waters remain clean and beautiful all year round,” said Mayor Rex Richardson in a public statement. “I can’t wait to see this bot hard at work in our waters donning the winning design from our youth art contest.”
With the Jellyfishbot as its disposal, the City has an easy-to-maneuver tool to clean waste and debris from local waters and address this aspect of marine pollution. Only a single Marine Bureau staff member is needed to operate the device to remove the collected debris, as opposed to using a boat and significantly more staff to manually collect debris.
The electric-powered bot comes with many features, including GPS, which gives staff the chance to create designated operating areas and a map of water depths. The Jellyfishbot also has a live camera feed, collision avoidance systems to avoid obstacles, and a net system on the back that collects debris.
The collecting device will be used in weekly operations and following storms, which typically lead to an increase in debris.
Jellyfishbot looking for a Name
The City’s Parks, Recreation, and Marine’s Adopt a Beach Program and the Aquarium of the Pacific, along with sponsorship from the Long Beach Container Terminal and Intex Recreation Corporation, began a youth and art naming contest for the bot during California Coastal Cleanup Day on September 21. Approximately 1,700 volunteers attended the event and removed more than 3,300 pounds of debris.
Through this contest, Long Beach youth are invited to submit ideas to name the aquatic device and have its art shown on both sides of the vessel. They are invited to apply via the Jellyfishbot Art Contest Application with submissions open through Friday, Oct. 25. Winners will earn a $1,500 scholarship package plus prizes donated by sponsors.
In the Adopted Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, one-time funding was granted for a barber surf rake to support the Beach Clean-Up Crew, bolster the frequency of waterline cleanup efforts, and purchase a new trash interceptor barge for the Los Angeles River.
The City is also working to push for infrastructure improvements through regional partnerships, as well as accrue additional state funding to take care of upstream sewage spills and assist the local communities most impacted.
To learn more about the Jellyfishbot, the Youth Art Contest and additional PRM environmental programs, visit lbparks.org.
