Between April and June 2025, Mobula 8.2 officially began operations in Kota Kinabalu under the coordination of our partner, Marine Research Foundation (MRF). In this first quarter of activity, the vessel collected 53,315 pieces of waste (945 kg), 94% of which were plastics, mainly food wrappers, fragments, and grocery bags. Two priority accumulation zones were identified, while operational coverage extended across five zones around Gaya Island and the city’s coastline.
Several challenges were encountered (manpower shortages, rough seas, equipment wear, crew heat exposure), but solutions have been implemented, including reinforcing the team, adapting navigation strategies, and improving protective gear. Partnerships were formalised through MoUs with Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and Gaya Island Resort, ensuring institutional support. Collaboration with local NGOs (The Sabah Recycling Association or , Meraki Daat) and recycling centres (Global Plastic Recovery, Prestige Recycle Technics) is progressing to channel collected plastics into circular solutions.
Next steps focus on strengthening recycling partnerships, training crews for better sorting, adjusting operations to seasonal currents, and engaging DBKK to move beyond landfill disposal toward sustainable recycling.
