The Ocean Cleanup project as Marine Scientific Research

This Memo studies the possibility of qualifying The Ocean Cleanup activities on the high seas as marine scientific research. The study provides an overview of the legal aspects of marine scientific research in treaties, case law and literature, and applies these on the activities of The Ocean Cleanup. It particularly focusses on the marine scientific research status under the Dutch flag. We conclude that such status is very well possible, especially in the pilot phase and first experimental deployment of The Ocean Cleanup activities on the high seas.