In this episode of Conscious Design, host Ian Peterman interviews Andrew Polanyi, the executive director of Ocean AID, about the innovative use of sonar technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle the severe issue of underwater ghost gear. Host  Ian Peterman and Andrew Polanyi discuss how Ocean AID is addressing the critical problem of plastic waste and ghost fishing gear, which have a significant impact on our ocean ecosystems.

Throughout the episode, Andrew Polanyi shares his entrepreneurial journey from Toronto to founding Ocean AID in Victoria, BC. They delve into the technology behind Ocean AID’s real-time automatic target recognition system and explore its applications beyond underwater ghost gear, including search and rescue, fisheries, and marine mammal detection. Andrew emphasizes the urgent need for better ocean management and discusses the role of government policies in shaping effective environmental projects aimed at reducing plastic waste in our oceans.