yeah but they are currently researching ways to "actually" pick the stuff from the water. Some is clearly visible, & the bigger stuff would collect together making it easier, but its the bulk of it thats not, just shreds of plastics just under the surface that as they say, is twice the size of texas.
Its that sh^t we have to find a solution for. Even if it was autonomous drone technologies, (cause clearly it would be cost prohibitive long term any other way) its the small issue of manoeuvrability - a sea of crap, almost invisible plastic crap that would clog conventional props & motors making the unit another piece of floating trash.