Ocean AID: Tackling Ghost Gear for a Cleaner Ocean

We hear about ocean health all of the time—rising sea levels, microplastics, pollution and debris—but what does cleaning the ocean actually involve? Ocean AID, supported by the Ocean Startup Project, is leading the way in turning these big ideas into real action, by tackling one of the ocean’s most stubborn and costly problems: removing ghost gear. 

But what exactly is ghost gear, and why is it such a big deal? 

Fishing nets, ropes, traps, and other equipment that have been lost or abandoned in the ocean, are wreaking havoc long after their intended use. Alarmingly, these remnants of human activity accounts for a staggering 70 percent of the ocean’s macro plastic pollution. These lost fishing tools can drift for years, trapping marine life, damaging sensitive ecosystems, and breaking down into harmful microplastics.

Efforts to recover ghost gear have been ongoing, but they can be costly, time-consuming, and limited in scale. The sheer vastness of the ocean presents a unique challenge when it comes to locating and retrieving this debris. However, innovative technologies are emerging to address this problem more effectively; that’s where Andrew Polanyi and Archit Kumar, co-founders of Ocean AID, come into action with their innovative solution to this ongoing problem. 

The Ocean Startup Project team had the pleasure of speaking with Polanyi to learn more about how the startup is using advanced technology to help solve the issue of ghost gear and other ocean pollution. We are happy to share their story and highlight the inspiring work Ocean AID is doing to keep our oceans clean. 

Introducing Andrew Polanyi and Ocean AID

Andrew Polanyi, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Ocean AID, comes from an unexpected background for someone leading a marine tech company. Raised in Toronto, far from the ocean, Andrew always harboured a love for entrepreneurship, starting his first business at 16, selling fresh juice at farmers’ markets. But it was the summers spent on Vancouver Island fishing with his grandparents that sparked his passion for the ocean. It’s this connection to the water, combined with his expertise in software engineering from the University of Victoria, that led him to co-found Ocean AID.

Ocean AID is a B2B ocean tech company based out of Victoria, British Columbia, focused on empowering marine decision-making through real-time object detection technology. “We specialise in creating automatic target recognition systems,” explains Andrew, “to help vessels and marine missions detect and classify underwater objects with high efficiency and accuracy.” This technology is precisely what makes Ocean AID uniquely qualified to address the ghost gear problem.

A High-Tech Solution to Ocean Debris

The problem Ocean AID tackles is vast in scope. The oceans are enormous, and monitoring them is both expensive and resource-intensive. This is where Ocean AID’s real-time automatic target recognition (ATR) systems come into play. Using sonar, video, and lidar technology, these systems help vessels detect and classify objects in real time, allowing for faster, more efficient missions on the water.

For applications like ghost gear retrieval, where timing and precision are critical, Ocean AID’s technology offers a significant advantage. Traditional ATR systems typically process data post-mission, meaning crews return to shore, analyse the data, and then plan retrieval missions based on the findings. But as Andrew explains, “We specialise in real-time signal processing, meaning that our system processes the data as it’s being collected, allowing for almost immediate decision-making.” Additionally, their software can be tailored to detect a wide variety of objects, from ghost gear and derelict vessels to marine life and fish.

Ocean AID’s commitment to sustainability is also a key differentiator. “We’re focused on applications that contribute to creating cleaner, healthier, and safer oceans,” says Andrew. Many competitors may cater to other markets, but Ocean AID is laser-focused on technologies that align with sustainable development goals.

Ocean AID’s Journey

The inspiration for Ocean AID’s work with ghost gear began with Andrew’s participation in the Ocean Startup Project’s Ocean Community Climate Challenge back in 2022. “We started by looking at plastic pollution and quickly realised the potential for using sonar and AI to detect not just plastic, but also ghost gear and other underwater debris,” Andrew recalls. With funding and mentorship from the Ocean Startup Project, Andrew and his co-founder, Archit Kumar, were able to validate their technology, even using Andrew’s grandfather’s boat to conduct their initial tests.

As a startup, Ocean AID has had its fair share of challenges. One of the toughest moments came when the Canadian Government’s Ghost Gear Fund, a crucial source of funding for their customers, was not renewed in 2024. This forced the team to pivot, identifying new customer bases and applications for their technology. Andrew credits the mentorship and networking support from the Ocean Startup Project for helping them navigate this tough period. “I had to get out of my comfort zone,” he admits, “cold-calling First Nations and other organisations to find new opportunities.”

That persistence paid off. Ocean AID recently completed its first contract with a First Nation in Prince Rupert, where they helped detect shoreline debris as part of a beach cleanup effort. This pilot project is just one example of how the company’s technology is being applied to make a tangible impact on ocean health.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Ocean AID

So, what’s next for Ocean AID? The company has ambitious plans for growth. In the short term, they’re expanding their two main ATR systems: the Marlin ATR, which focuses on underwater objects like ghost gear, and the Eagle ATR, which uses aerial video to detect shoreline and surface debris. They are also developing models that can monitor marine life, such as fish and seabirds, helping users gain more comprehensive insights into marine ecosystems.

Ocean AID is also expanding into the fishing market, hoping to help commercial and recreational fishers improve their efficiency and reduce bycatch. With over 170,000 fishing vessels in British Columbia alone, there’s significant potential for their technology to make a meaningful impact.

In the long term, Andrew has set a “big, hairy, audacious goal” for Ocean AID: to become a global leader in marine monitoring technology within the next five years. It’s an ambitious goal, but given the progress they’ve made so far, it’s one that seems well within reach.

Ghost gear is a significant contributor to the plastic pollution crisis in our oceans, but innovative solutions like those from Ocean AID offer hope. By combining cutting-edge technology with a clear mission for sustainability, Andrew Polanyi and his team are tackling one of the ocean’s biggest challenges head-on. As Ocean AID continues to grow, their impact on ocean health—and their contribution to solving the ghost gear problem—will be one to watch.

Learn more about Ocean AID and their incredible work by visiting their website.