This research examines limitations of the Alternative Fines Act in prosecuting major environmental crimes. Following Southern Union Co. v. United States, complex jury requirements hinder large fines. The study proposes legal strategies to overcome this “complexity problem,” enabling stronger penalties and improving deterrence against serious corporate environmental violations.

Marine debris severely harms ocean ecosystems, yet most cleanup focuses only on floating waste. This research develops underwater robots equipped with specialized computer vision to detect and remove submerged trash. By training algorithms for challenging underwater conditions, the work enables safer, scalable cleanup operations and supports long-term ocean preservation.