A leviathan of a sculpture made from reclaimed marine debris is on display at Government House today to mark World Ocean Day.

The 20-foot life-size representation of a nine-month-old North Atlantic humpback whale — an idea imagined by Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, and brought to life by Bermudian artist Hannah Horsfield — is affectionately called Whaleen.

Ms Horsfield, a programmes educator at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, led the project which evolved through weeks of shoreline clean-ups across Bermuda.

It is the largest sculpture she has ever made and incorporates more than 1,000 individual plastic items including 78 octopus traps, 45 oil jugs, 63 flip-flops, 39 white jugs and bottles, 14 large waste and oil containers, 13 plastic crates, one large fishing net and one discarded mooring rope that forms the whale’s mouth.

King Charles III was able to view the sculpture on May 1 during its final phase of construction on the grounds of Government House.

He met Ms Horsfield, who was joined by Youth Climate Summit students and local primary school pupils working to complete the sculpture in time for World Ocean Day today.

The plastics washed up on Bermuda’s beaches are often brought by ocean currents.

Ms Horsfield partnered with environmental organisations, schools and community volunteers to collect items from beaches across the island.

Summer Wood, BUEI’s education head, was also present during the King’s visit to explain the educational use of the sculpture as part of BUEI’s outreach programme to schools in Bermuda.

Mr Murdoch said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the concept has been brilliantly brought to life by the talent of Bermudian artist Hannah Horsfield.

“This is a wonderful sculpture and as a piece of art it deserves to be seen by visitors to Government House.

“Its creation was always intended to be more than just art. Its creation required collaboration from organisations across the island and it sends a powerful message on the need to work together to protect the ocean — turning waste into advocacy for change.

“It highlights Bermudian artistic talent. It highlights family and community spirit in those that came together to design, build, collect materials, transport and install Whaleen.

“It highlights the incredible nature off our coast in the form of the iconic humpback whale and it highlights the threat posed to our ocean from marine plastics and the damage plastics do to the environment.”

Ms Horsfield has been working to raise awareness about marine plastic pollution for nearly a decade.

She said: “As a teenager, I began collecting plastic from Bermuda’s shorelines, later writing my environmental science thesis on the issue of plastic pollution in Bermuda and creating art installations from recovered marine debris.

“I am deeply honoured to have been invited to create Whaleen for Bermuda and incredibly grateful to the many individuals and organisations whose collaboration brought this vision to life.

“My hope is that the sculpture inspires viewers to reflect on the impact of plastic pollution and motivates them to help protect our marine environment and the remarkable marine mammals that depend on it.”

The project celebrates meaningful progress and community action and delivers a “critical” message: “Every piece of debris collected for the sculpture is a reminder of the persistent challenge posed by plastic waste”.

Marine pollution continues to endanger ecosystems and wildlife, including species like the humpback whale.

Through art, education and environmental action, the Whaleen project was said to represent a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together.

Each item of ocean plastic debris was carefully sorted by size, colour and material type in preparation for construction.

A metal framework was built, with reclaimed PVC pipe and blue barrels being added to create the familiar shape.

Hundreds of flattened marine plastic fragments were then secured to create the sculpture’s outer “skin”.

The near-final piece was then transported through Hamilton on the back of a flatbed truck to Government House to be completed.

World Ocean Day is celebrated globally every year with activities including beach clean-ups, advocacy campaigns and initiatives to expand marine protected areas and help ensure long-term ocean conservation.

The theme for World Ocean Day 2026 is “Strong Marine Protected Areas for Our Blue Planet”.