The Greater Victoria Harbour Authority has installed “seabins” at the Inner Causeway and at Fisherman’s Wharf to sustain healthy waters in the area. Seabins operate by attracting and trapping floating debris and pollutants, such as plastics, paper, fuel, and detergent. Water is sucked in from the surface and passes through a catch bag inside the Seabin with the use of a submersible water pump.
Designed for lakes, harbours, and marinas to capture debris, Seabins work very effectively without harming sea animals and are economical to run. To operate its pump, the Seabin is connected directly into 110/220-volt outlets, using as little power as possible and can run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The pump is capable of displacing 25,000 liters of water per hour. The Seabin was invented by Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinski, Australian boat builders and surfers, who launched their prototype in 2015.
The Seabin project at Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria, BC is a community-led initiative. It was funded by Fisherman’s Wharf businesses, as well as public donations, with $3,281 raised from community contributions to install the Seabin. The Seabins at the Inner Causeway were gifted to the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA) from the Surfrider Foundation South Vancouver Island, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans.
Visitors are welcome to watch the Seabins in action at Fisherman’s Wharf and at the Inner Causeway in Victoria.
