Could Drones Help Tackle Marine Litter?

Saturday, 23 February 2019 08:13

Drones might have a role to play in removing litter from local waters.

Jersey's Environment Minister, Deputy John Young, has been meeting other environment officials from across the British Isles at a summit in Glasgow this week.

The surveying technology has been shown off at British & Irish Council's marine litter conference.

Speaking to Channel 103, Deputy Young says he's interested in the new technology, which could be trialled in the island:

"We heard about people using aerial surveys of beaches to identify where the litter hot spots are. I think this is something we might adopt - drones seem to be a sensible move. I'd want to go back and talk to the technologists and the scientists and see if that's something that we could take forward."

Deputy Young says governments across Britain and Ireland are united in wanting to tackle the problem of marine litter. He says sharing knowledge with other governments is a 'sensible' way to tackle the problem of litter in Jersey waters.

He attended the conference along with officials from organisations like Ports of Jersey and the government's Eco-Active team to have practical discussions with other governments on how to work together to tackle marine litter.

As the island consumes goods and packaging rather than manufacturing them, the Minister says whatever the island's relationship with the EU after Brexit, the island should try to work closely with France to keep Jersey waters clean:

"There's a lot of common ground between us and our French neighbours and we exchange information routinely. Obviously, at the present time, we are having to work within the structures that apply while the current round of uncertainty continues, but there's no question about it - there is absolutely scope for [closer working] and that's something that we'll be trying to develop whatever the outcomes of Brexit."