PAME Scotland: Dutch Initiative Launches Third Litter-Tracking Capsule

FRASERBURGH, SCOTLAND — In early August 2026, the ongoing effort to understand the life cycle of marine litter reached a boost when Dutch sailor and adventurer Eelco Leemans, in collaboration with Wageningen Social & Economic Research and PAME, deployed a third GPS-equipped capsule into the North Sea. The previous two were launched in the close to the Netherlands and drifted ashore after a few weeks in the ocean.

The new one is still on track, drifting away from Scotland.

This capsule is part of PAME's Plastic in a Bottle initiative. By tracking the path of these capsules, researchers and stakeholders can visualize how wind and ocean currents transport litter across vast distances.

"Marine litter knows no boundaries," says the team at Wageningen. "What enters the water at one location can end up on the coast of another country. Our research aims to identify the sources and causes of this pollution to help stakeholders tackle the problem at its origin."

This project is supported by funding from the Dutch government and serves as a powerful reminder that while litter pollution is a global challenge, proactive, cross-border cooperation can make a significant difference.

Follow the real-time journey of the 'PAME Scotland' capsule here.

A video of the lanuch is available below: