Eyesea and Paz Recycling Pilot Program Successfully Monitors and Manages Coastal Waste in Patagonia
Eyesea, in collaboration with Paz Recycling, has recently completed a pilot program aimed at monitoring and managing coastal waste in Patagonia using cutting-edge technology. The initiative, part of SalmonChile’s Observatorio de Playas open innovation challenge, utilizes satellite imagery and artificial intelligence to enhance coastal surveillance and optimize cleanup operations.
The pilot program, conducted in key areas of Chile’s Los Lagos and Aysén regions, involved field visits, data calibration, and satellite analysis provided by Eyesea, Paz Recycling, SalmonChile, and sustainability consultancy Këtrawa. The system developed through this collaboration detects and tracks waste accumulation in Chile’s fjords and beaches, enabling real-time data collection, georeferencing, and waste categorization using Eyesea’s pollution reporting platform.
Eyesea’s CTO, Marius Suteu, emphasized the importance of balancing effort with effectiveness in recovering coastal pollution from remote areas. The project demonstrated the capability to identify pollution concentrations over vast areas using satellite image spectrometry, allowing for better organization of cleanup work by partners and local communities.
The pilot program also utilized satellite spectrometry from Eyesea’s partner, Grundo.io, to establish contamination baselines and calibrate remote sensing data with on-the-ground findings. Heat maps generated through this process enabled targeted cleanup efforts by identifying high-accumulation zones, streamlining resource allocation, and improving response strategies.
According to the final report, the pilot confirmed the system’s viability for scaling waste management solutions, recommending expanded monitoring and the integration of citizen participation in future initiatives. Marcela Bravo, SalmonChile Project Manager, expressed satisfaction with the results, stating that the technology is essential for their commitment to marine environment protection and cleanup efficiency.
1,727 Kilometers of Coastline Recovered by 2024
Simultaneously, Comprometidos con el Mar continued its extensive beach cleanup efforts, with the 2024 report indicating the restoration of 1,727 kilometers of shoreline and the removal of over 5,300 cubic meters of waste. Styrofoam accounted for 64% of the waste, followed by floats (14%), buoys (7%), and ropes (5%), among other materials.
Over the past eight years, nearly 10,000 kilometers of coastline have been restored through this significant coastal cleanup initiative. By combining innovative technology with local expertise, Eyesea and its partners are setting a new global standard for coastal conservation, demonstrating that innovation can drive real impact in marine environmental protection.