Air bubble barrier helps stop plastic waste from entering the ocean

The video discusses a bubble barrier system in Amsterdam's Western Dock that collects plastic waste from the canal. A previous trial showed it collected 86% of riverborne plastic. The system uses water flow to guide waste to a catchment area, supplementing boats that collect 42 tons of plastic annually. The barrier also brings submerged plastics to the surface and oxygenates the river, preventing algae blooms and supporting the aquatic ecosystem.

What additional function do the boats serve besides collecting plastic?

In what way does the bubble barrier affect the aquatic ecosystem?