Comprehensive Coastal Data Reveals New Insights into Marine Litter Distribution
Since 2021, In The Same Boat has systematically collected high-resolution GPS data linked to every 10 kilograms of marine litter gathered across selected coastal areas. This method provides an unprecedented level of precision in tracking and understanding where and how marine debris accumulates.
The resulting dataset is likely among the most extensive and detailed of its kind globally. It offers valuable insights into patterns of plastic pollution, supporting a deeper understanding of how waste moves through and settles along coastlines and in the terrain.
To further enhance the impact and value of this data, In The Same Boat has established collaborations with leading scientific communities and research initiatives, including scientists at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
In parallel, new strategies to combat marine litter are being developed in close cooperation with stakeholders in the seafood industry – “Plastic Free Seafood“.
A simplified, interactive map of the dataset is available here:
https://www.inthesameboat.eco/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Tracker_heatmap.html
Heatmap from Sleneset/Solværæyene, a group of 365 islands close to the Arctic Circle.
In several monitored areas, data collection is conducted on a continuous basis, enabling the identification of freshly accumulating marine litter over time.
Combined with millions of recorded movement data points from beach-cleaners, this provides a unique foundation for advanced analysis. The dataset makes it possible not only to map where waste accumulates, but also to evaluate the effectiveness of clean-up efforts across different terrain types, varying levels of pollution and cleaning methodology.
The overarching objective is to use these insights to continuously refine operational methods, ensuring that resources are deployed as efficiently as possible.
The data collection is an initiative by In The Same Boat, using our GPS trackers across multiple cleanup operations. These include projects under the Rydd i Tide programme, funded by the Norwegian Retailers’ Environment Fund, as well as initiatives supported by Norges Sildesalgslag, Norges Råfisklag, MOWI, Kvarøy Fiskeoppdrett, Lovundlaks, Van Oord, and others.
Our GPS tracking devices, together with integrated mapping and documentation systems, play a central role in our methodology. In addition to enabling precise data collection, they support real-time coordination of the teams, and enhance safety for our crews in the field.
By combining these data with our methodology based on a flexible and continuous prioritizing of resources, test projects we have performed show that beach cleaning efficiency can increase by up to 400%.
In practice, this means that by prioritizing areas with the highest accumulation of waste — high-density zones — and using flexible mobile resources, it is possible to remove up to four times more litter per unit of available funding and resources compared to the most commonly used methods today.
Multiple field tests support these findings, and we aim to see this approach adopted more widely in the years ahead.
The tracker, delivered by IEC Telecom, is a standardized part of our cleaning work-gear.
Powerful tool for skippers and team-leaders
Live monitoring with GPS data improves efficiency and safety for the crews in the field, and even management can follow the operations remotely, making sure resources are distributed in an optimal way, not leaving any hotspot uncleaned.
The live map shows the location for every bag filled (10kg), depots left for pickup, and the movement of each beach cleaner.
This makes it easy to plan pickup points and logistics, always utilising the full capacity of the workboats, with minimum emissions.
The skipper/teamleader can easily instruct each beach cleaner where to move, over radio or messaging.
Screenshot from Traksat, showing the location of 5 beach cleaners in the terrain.
