Fairhaven Unveils Innovative Jellyfishbot for Waterway Cleanup

Fairhaven has become the first community on the East Coast to introduce the Jellyfishbot, an autonomous aquatic robot designed to clean local waterways by removing trash, microplastics, and oil. This cutting-edge technology aims to enhance environmental protection and respond swiftly to pollution incidents, marking a significant advancement in the town’s efforts to maintain water quality.

Jellyfishbot: A Game Changer for Water Quality

The Jellyfishbot, often referred to as a “water Roomba,” utilizes specialized nets to capture various types of debris, from larger items like plastic cups to microscopic pollutants. In addition to its trash collection capabilities, the robot can deploy absorbent materials to address oil spills, providing Fairhaven with a vital tool for environmental emergencies. As it operates, the Jellyfishbot also conducts water quality monitoring and performs bathymetric surveys, further contributing to the town’s environmental initiatives.

Bruce Webb, Fairhaven’s director of Land Use and Planning, highlighted the importance of this technology, recalling a significant diesel fuel spill that occurred two years ago. “Now, with this technology, we’ll be able to respond immediately to contain and clean up this type of event and significantly reduce its impact on the harbor,” he stated. The Jellyfishbot is part of a broader collaborative project involving Fairhaven’s Land Use and Planning Department, the Marine Resources Department, and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District, all supported by a state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant.

Community engagement played a crucial role in the project’s development. Residents voted on various seed project ideas, ultimately selecting the Jellyfishbot as their preferred initiative. The robot was chosen after a competitive bidding process that included proposals from three European and two Chinese manufacturers. The French company IADYS was awarded the contract, meeting all necessary requirements for trash removal, oil response, and autonomous navigation. Fairhaven acquired the Jellyfishbot using $50,000 in MVP 2.0 funds from the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, with installation and staff training completed in August.

Community Involvement and Future Prospects

Weighing just 45 pounds and resembling a small lawnmower, the Jellyfishbot is bright yellow-orange and equipped with a beacon and horn for visibility. It can be programmed to operate in designated areas while also adapting to its surroundings by detecting vessels and navigating safely. The robot will be stationed at Union Wharf during the summer months, with plans to test its functionality year-round in Fairhaven’s ice-free harbor.

To foster community ownership, Fairhaven invited residents to participate in naming the Jellyfishbot. An online poll and in-person voting at the Huttleston HarborFest event garnered hundreds of responses, with the winning name, “Bumblebee,” announced at the festival. Webb expressed optimism about the robot’s impact, stating, “The most visible impact will be the reduction of floating trash.” He noted that residents often reported debris in the harbor, and the Jellyfishbot will help collect it before it reaches the shoreline, promoting a sense of stewardship for the coastline.

Daily operations of the Jellyfishbot will be managed by Fairhaven’s Marine Resources Department. Harbormaster Tim Cox emphasized the significance of the robot’s capabilities, particularly in areas where debris tends to accumulate. While the Jellyfishbot currently focuses on trash reduction and emergency spill response, future models may incorporate additional treatment tools for bacterial issues like blue-green algae. The Jellyfishbot is set to begin operations in September, marking a new chapter in Fairhaven’s commitment to environmental sustainability.