Public invited to help name Long Beach’s new marina trash-cleaning device

The City of Long Beach has a new weapon in the war against trash, a remote-controlled debris-collecting device capable of removing up to 100 pounds of garbage from waterways in one single mission.

The new “Jellyfishbot” will aid the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine by helping clean marina waters while simultaneously bringing awareness to the issue of waterway pollution.

The city is also asking its youngest residents to help come up with a name and uniform for it.

“The Jellyfishbot is an innovative resource that supports our commitment to environmental stewardship and ensuring our waters remain clean and beautiful all year round,” said Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson. “I can’t wait to see this bot hard at work in our waters donning the winning design from our youth art contest.”

The remote-controlled device skates across the surface of the water, collecting debris in its attached net. It’s electric-powered and equipped with GPS, a live camera feed and a built-in avoidance system that detects underwater obstacles.

Long Beach will deploy the Jellyfishbot weekly and after significant weather events to collect smaller debris in the marina, needing only one person to remotely operate it.

“Typically, debris removal operations of this size require a boat and additional staffing to drive and net the debris manually,” city officials said.

It’s set to embark on its first mission this week.

To celebrate the debut of the new trash-picking watercraft, Long Beach, along with local partners, launched a youth art and naming contest. Local kids can submit their name ideas or artwork to be displayed on the device’s sides.

Ideas can be submitted online through Oct. 25, and the chosen artist will receive a $1,500 scholarship package, as well as prizes from local sponsors.

The Jellyfishbot is the latest investment made by the City of Long Beach in its efforts to improve water quality and remove debris from its beaches. The city’s 2025 fiscal budget includes one-time funding for a tractor-towed beach cleaning device, increased waterfront clean-up frequency and a new trash interceptor that will be placed in the Los Angeles River.

For more information about these ongoing efforts to reduce pollution in the city, as well as other programs from the Long Beach Department of Parks, Recreation and Marina, click here .

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