Text written in Basque and translated automatically by Elia without any subsequent editing. SEE ORIGINAL

Photo of the week: Oceanographic device decorated by children

Although the box in the image looks like a toy, it is an oceanographic research device that AZTI has requested to contact if it is found at any point on the Basque coast.

This box and 17 others have been launched by AZTI within the Ulysses project. The aim is to combat plastic pollution in rivers and oceans by analysing the movement of marine litter along the Basque coast.

Half of the devices launched carry GPS to be able to follow them in real time. The other half does not have a sensor and thanks to the help of the people who find them, you can know their destination.

The one in the image is the Wooden W016, without sensors, which was accompanied by the Traveller T011 with sensors. Both were thrown at the same time and were found on the beach of Saturraran a few hours and a few meters apart. In this way, researchers will be able to make a comparison between both devices, which will allow a better understanding of the influence of regional currents.

Citizen science is fundamental in the project. The children have decorated the devices in order to get to know the project and arouse interest, and people who find the devices can also report where and when they found them.

After this first launch, the project plans to deploy more than 1,000 devices in the Gulf of Bizkaia.