Ocean

Can blue food help save the planet?

Sasha Cohen Ioannides — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 10:05:06 +0000

Can blue food help save the planet?

Tags

Blue Economy

Food

Innovation

Ocean

Topic

Blue Economy

Innovation

Globally, three billion people rely on fish and seafood for 20% of their animal protein intake, which means that around 6.5% of all protein consumed comes from fish, based on figures released by the World Bank.

Seafood consumption has doubled within the past fifty years due to wealth increase and the desire to decrease other animal protein sources.

This rapidly growing trend has led to over 90% of fish stocks being over or fully fished and disrupting marine ecosystems.

The demand is expected to be doubled again within the next 50 years.

Seafood-based proteins produce much less environmental impact than terrestrial-based ones, primarily due to the lack of land required to grow them.

Thanks to the diversity of blue foods, including fish, many invertebrates, aquatic plants, algae, and other aquatic animals, this diet can also impact humans’ health positively.

Due to the overfishing of predators, similar to overhunting on land, many otherwise hunted species begin to overpopulate, which can easily unbalance fragile and complex underwater ecosystems.

Turning challenges into opportunities there are areas where innovative and sustainable solutions are popping up thanks to impact-driven leaders.

One such case is with sea urchin populations that overgraze kelp and seagrass forests, turning the water into a desolate wasteland.

Startup Urchinomics is managing urchins populations while producing premium seafood products. Image: Pexels

Norwegian-based startup Urchinomics solves this problem by rehoming the urchins into ranches, where they go from annoying pests to a premium seafood product that can be consistently supplied year-round.

This way, food is farmed while positively affecting the environment, recovering a healthy ecosystem with a particular focus on sea kelp forests.

Addressing harmful urchin overpopulation with an innovative solution that preserves marine life by creating food is also proven to be a viable business model.

While sea urchins face overpopulation, other marine animals, such as sea oysters, have been underpopulated. This results in undersupply and also negative environmental impacts.

Oysters might not be as famous for their critical role as coral reefs. Still, they provide multiple benefits, such as water quality improvement, nursery habitat for fish, and reduced nitrogen levels, while contributing to the local economy and culture.

A sustainable farming business, The Oyster Restoration Company, based in the United Kingdom, aims to fix this problem by providing 150 million native oysters annually.

They are working on this by selectively breeding oysters to create disease resistance, a common problem in aquaculture.

They work to bring balance back into the environment and improve farm yield to reduce dependency on pacific species.

Oysters are overlooked for their ability to improve water quality, provide fish nurseries, and reduce nitrogen levels while contributing to the economy and culture. Image: Pexels

Although farming fish and invertebrates is becoming more popular, seaweed farming is getting more attention as this plant absorbs carbon dioxide and nitrogen while protecting seabeds.

Oceanium, a Scottish enterprise, is a sustainable seaweed farm that meets many industries’ needs by producing food, feed, and biomass. They launched the “KELP-EU” or “Kelping the EU”, an 18-month project with multiple partners that allows them to study seaweed further.

However, not all farming has to be nature-based.

German-Thai company HydroNeo brings the process of shrimp farming to the future through Internet-of-Things technology. They have developed a smart farm management system that allows farmers to check pH and water temperature while remotely feeding and aerating their farms.

Seafood may have a lower environmental impact than land animals, we need to be aware that the pollution produced by this industry is still not as low as it is with plant-based products.

Consumers may still yearn for a fishy flavour but want plant based sourcing, as they are concerned about the effects of microplastic pollution in the ocean or have ethical issues with fishing.

Swedish company, Hooked offers a 100% plant-based substitute for tuna and salmon. Image: Hooked

Swedish-based enterprise Hooked provides a terrific substitute for tuna and salmon through a combination of sustainable soybeans, sunflower oil, and algae.

They list all ingredient sources on their website for a completely transparent and traceable product.

By providing a plant-based vegan substitute for fish, they are reducing microplastic consumption in humans and greenhouse gas emissions from the industry, while reducing the need for fishing.

According to Hooked, canned tuna has 6.06 kg of CO2 equivalent emission per kilo of product, while their product, Toonish only produces 2.7.

It is no question that there is a huge potential for using blue foods to address many challenges.

Still, the seafood industry needs urgent re-examination to create sustainable and regenerative solutions.

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April 2023

Can changing the tide in ocean protection prevent climate breakdown?

Szilvia Szabó — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 10:16:17 +0000

Can changing the tide in ocean protection prevent climate breakdown?

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Exploring the link between preserving marine life, preventing climate breakdown and protecting coastal communities.

At the COP15, the UN Biodiversity Summit, held in Montreal, Canada, between 7-9 December, the main focus will be to stop humanity's 'war on nature'.

One of the most critical areas is regenerating healthy ocean ecosystems that would significantly help fight climate change as well.

Sea Shepherd Global is an international non-profit marine conservation organisation on a mission to protect and conserve the world’s oceans and marine wildlife.

Christopher Storey, Partnerships Manager at Sea Shepherd Global, shares insights into their projects and how it is linked to climate change and even climate justice.

"The most critical challenges in protecting oceans and marine wildlife are resources, awareness and priorities,"

according to Storey.

More resources are needed in terms of vessels, crew and finance to cover more ground more efficiently. He says that there is also a need to raise awareness actively.

Sea Shepherd provides fully equipped vessels, professional crews, fuel, and other tools that enhance their ability to detect illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Image: Sea Shepher Global

Given the vastness of the ocean, it is hard for people to connect that their actions impact marine life. It is even harder to grasp the real dangers of illegal activities happening at sea, so far away from them.

Ocean and marine life protection are still not on the top list for decision-makers, even though our very own survival depends on this ecosystem.

However, engaging governments are crucial to achieving their mission. Therefore, they worked out a unique model to provide at-sea resources to assist, serve and support developing coastal and island governments in protecting their sovereign waters against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Their international fleet includes ten ships and several smaller boats. During the past five years, they collaborated with local law enforcement to arrest dozens of vessels, resulting in numerous successful prosecutions.

Sea Shepherd is supporting governments to protect their sovereign waters against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Image: Sea Shepherd Global

The main goal is to enhance a government’s capacity to patrol, monitor, and enforce its own laws. Executing these projects is complex due to a lack of finance and knowledge.

Illegal fishing is probably the biggest threat to marine life, as more than 20 per cent of the fish taken out of the sea comes from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Christopher highlights the need to access more big data in tracking and making it mandatory for vessels to have their locations on, saying that countries need to be more responsible for their waters and implement more policies.

“There are two critical factors in combatting this challenge:

One is having the resources to patrol and monitor these areas for illegal fishing activities, including access to data and tracking what is really happening at sea.

The other is the will of governments and law enforcement to punish those caught breaking these laws.

It does not solve the problem if ships can pay a small fine and continue poaching in another sea.

Even if there is the will to create more laws protecting the ocean and more Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), without the resources to enforce those laws, IUU fishing will continue.”

Sea Shepherd runs several campaigns focused on IUU fishing from Africa to Europe.

Recently, the organisation partnered with Veja, a well-known French sustainable sneaker brand, to join forces in raising awareness about overfishing.

“Two Veja team members went on one of our vessels and witnessed an extreme overfishing incident that eventually made it to the headlines as a shocking event leaving over 100,000 dead fish discarded at the cost of France.”

This event was linked to the fishing practice used on the Margiris, a super trawler bigger than a US military destroyer.

Minimising illegal fishing activities is critical in preserving marine ecosystems and supporting local communities. Image: Sea Shepherd Global

They are using giant-sized drag nets with the side effect of catching many more marine animals than intended, including endangered species.

Storey points out that we need a healthy ocean regulating climate and reducing climate change impacts as ocean currents distribute heat across the globe, influencing temperature and weather.

The ocean also absorbs over 90% of the heat and approximately 30% of carbon dioxide emissions produced by human activities.

Sea Shepherd is tirelessly working on projects and building new partnerships with governments and other organisations to safeguard all living creatures in our oceans and seas.

You can read the full interview with more insights in the Blue Economy edition of the Profit with Purpose Magazine.

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December 2022

Movement to unite and support beach and river clean-up projects all over the world

Business Spirit News reporting — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 15:49:34 +0000

Movement to unite and support beach and river clean-up projects all over the world

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The Moving Water Alliance was launched to offer funding, educational materials and various supports to help non-profit projects addressing water pollution issues.

The Planet Calls non-profit organisation launched the Moving Water Alliance in August 2021 to unite and support beach and river clean-up projects worldwide.

This new movement offers access to funding, educational collateral and support to help organisers develop and grow their teams to address water pollution issues locally.

The idea of creating this Alliance sparked from witnessing the amount of waste that has been skyrocketing since the Covid-19 pandemic started.

Single-use plastic, like sanitiser bottles, aprons, masks, and gloves, is now making its way to not just landfills but natural habitats like oceans.

Tarryn Johnston, Chairperson, Moving Water Alliance

The increasing amount of pollution is putting more strain on already exhausted marine life and other ecosystems.

“I decided to become a Chairperson for Moving Water Alliance because I have an already well-established river clean-up non-profit-organisation based in Gauteng, South Africa.

I have created a model that anyone can replicate with enough drive, passion, and commitment to saving our rivers and oceans.

We want to assist more people and non-profits in doing the same all over the world,” says Tarryn Johnston about how she started this movement.

Johnston is no newcomer to river pollution clean-ups since she formed a non-profit in 2019 called Hennops Revival in South Africa.

Since its inception, she has removed almost 1.3 million kilograms of pollution from the Hennops River in Gauteng province together with her team of volunteers.

Thanks to the generosity of local businesses who sponsor some clean-ups, she could offer employment to the homeless and people in need from the local communities.

Her tried-and-tested business model will now be shared with members of Moving Water Alliance to help them solve a massive environmental problem while uplifting communities through the employment that these projects can provide.

Membership is free, and members can expect to receive various supports in growing their beach and river clean up teams.

Organisers of the Moving Water Alliance envision this initiative to become a home for existing river or beach clean-up projects and a welcoming space for those who would like to start such movements.

Members will be able to reach out when they need advice, encouragement or just a conversation with someone on the same page and find guides and friends with one common goal: saving our planets precious water bodies and marine and aquatic life.

The Moving Water Alliance encourages grassroots organisations and projects from this field to share their project, so the Alliance can amplify their reach and support them in their journey to make a positive impact!

Johnston adds:

“We are looking to guide and assist people who are in it for the long haul, as we understand that it didn't get this way overnight and neither will it be fixed overnight.”

The Planet Calls launched this initiative, hoping that having a global movement will certainly come with a weight and help create awareness of the rising number of people willing to stand up and do the work.

“At the moment, we are working on member welcome packs, which will include "how-to" guides and informative, encouraging material as well as the launch of our digital magazine scheduled for October,” says Tarryn Johnston about the next steps.

The Planet Calls is a non-profit foundation focused on sustainability and circular economy advocacy, educating people about how to treat the Earth with respect and care to accelerate change.

Headline image: by Brian Yurasits on Unsplash

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August 2021

Business accelerator calls for scaling ocean-focused startups

Bronagh Loughlin — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 11:58:23 +0000

Business accelerator calls for scaling ocean-focused startups

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The Sustainable Ocean Alliance is currently accepting applications for scaling ocean-focused startups.

The Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) is currently accepting applications for scaling ocean-focused startups.

It is a first-of-its-kind initiative for future thinkers with any idea that will solve some of the critical ocean challenges we face today.

The application is open for founders with a profit-oriented, market-driven, ocean-related solution.

The Ocean Solutions Accelerator programme supports startups in developing scalable solutions while addressing the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets.

They are in their third year of accelerating startups, and throughout that time, they have worked with 29 companies from 12 countries and raised approximately $20 million in follow-on funding.

Ocean Solutions Accelerator programme

Their 2020 Accelerator Programme saw 9 startups from 7 different countries participating in the first all-virtual Accelerator programme, culminating in the most well-attended Demo Day yet.

Over just 4 weeks, entrepreneurs participated in 35 sessions featuring 29 speakers and facilitators and made more than 60 new connections with SOA mentors.

Daniela Fernandez, CEO and Founder of Sustainable Ocean Alliance, says,

“Being an ocean tech entrepreneur, it’s not easy because it hasn’t been done before. We have to work with one another to build it. And that’s what we’re here for, to put all those pieces together for you.”

Some previous startups they have worked with include the first company to make compostable materials derived from seaweed as a plastic alternative, Loliware.

They created the term ‘Hyper-compostable' to reflect on innovative material they designed that allows their products to break down at the same rate as food waste in compost or in the natural environment.

This makes an important distinction from the widely used corn bioplastic (PLA), which is only compostable in an industrial setting.

Another startup that participated in the SOA Accelerator programme is called BlockCycle in Australia, targeted plastics with waste-to-value marketplace using blockchain technology, famously associated with cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin.

Innovative recycled plastic materials and products are trending

Craig Dudenhoeffer, Chief Innovation Officer and Co-Founder at SOA, says, “We get a lot of applications from people saying I am turning ocean plastic into skateboards, I am turning fishing nets into blank.

One good example of a company that then stands out is Ocean Works, it’s enabling technology that we think could actually transform and create a new market for plastic and spur new innovations around what we do with that.

That’s an example of something we didn’t know we were looking for.”

Applying startup's solution must be feasible, scalable, and solving real issues in the ocean sector and work towards improving ocean health.

With an ambitious team, enterprises must have a plan for generating revenue, potentially with initial traction of customers or investors already.

Throughout the programme, founders receive guidance from SOA’s community as they engage with mentors, partners, and potential funders to achieve their goals.

The Ocean Solutions Accelerator will also present founders with a rigorous curriculum that encourages personal development and executive training with a range of world-class facilitators and pitch coaches.

The programmes include virtual Demo Days, connecting entrepreneurs with more investors, mentors and industry experts.

Besides, SOA routinely provides opportunities to gain exposure from its extensive social media network and connections to industry events.

Brandon Levy, Programme Director, says,

“At one point, it’s humbling but also empowering, knowing that as individuals, entrepreneurs and leaders, we can match the challenge with our own ingenuity, and that’s really what SOA is all about.

We are a community of empowered change-makers who are doing what we think is important; what we know is important.”

Headline image: Photo by Pok Rie from Pexels

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March 2021

Join the Ocean Video Challenge

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 15:23:14 +0000

Join the Ocean Video Challenge

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Create a short video about why the world needs to urgently support greater ocean protection and climate action.

The Save the Ocean Creative Challenge is organised by The Ocean Agency, Adobe and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as part of the Glowing Glowing Gone campaign - a global campaign using creativity and colour to rapidly accelerate ocean conservation and climate action.

This new challenge is designed to help participants gain skills to plan, sequence and craft an informative and persuasive video, while at the same time developing knowledge about oceans, coral reefs and the impacts of climate change. It is also a great opportunity to increase family and community learning engagement and to share with social networks while practising physical distancing to help flatten the coronavirus curve.

“Coral reefs are among the world’s most vulnerable ecosystems to climate change.

Scientists believe we have lost 50% of original coral cover and with projected warming, we stand to lose another 70 to 90% in the coming decades.

What many people also don’t know is that coral reefs are also known as the medicine cabinets of the sea as many life-saving medicines, including for treating viral infections, are made from bioactive compounds found in coral reef organisms.

Coral reef, Image: Pexels

During these days of physical distancing and learning from home, we have a great opportunity to learn more about these amazing ecosystems through online activities such the Save the Ocean Creative Challenge,” says UNEP marine ecosystems expert Gabriel Grimsditch.

This digital challenge seeks to empower people to become “master storytellers and marketing moguls” by using creative software, video footage, imagery, text, and graphics provided.

You can access these online resources to create your video: Information on glowing corals, curated video clips and audio files, and high-quality coral reef images. Award-winning cinematographer David Hannan and Reef Check France donated the footage as part of The Ocean Agency’s Image Bank.

“Creativity is an essential skill, and challenges like this give young people amazing opportunities to get creative while deepening their understanding of hugely important issues. Creative teaching methods can deliver positive outcomes across all subjects and make learning more fun at the same time,” says Simon Morris, Senior Director, Digital Media Marketing, Adobe.

Selected videos will be featured on the Glowing Glowing Gone site.

Creative minds at home - teachers, students, parents, children and families - are invited to bring to life, through video skills, videos on why the world needs to save an important component of the planet’s rich biodiversity.

For this online challenge, the focus is the world’s magical coral reefs, home to a quarter of sea life.

More information about the Save the Ocean Creative Challenge >>

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Open call to raise awarenness

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April 2020

UNDP launches new Ocean Innovation Challenge

Szilvia Szabó — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 16:43:21 +0000

UNDP launches new Ocean Innovation Challenge

Tags

SDGs

Ocean

Responsible Innovation

Topic

Funding

Open Call

Blue Economy

Financing Innovation for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 - Life under water

The ocean ecosystem has never faced such a diverse range of threats caused by overfishing, pollution, habitat loss and the multiple impacts of climate change.

Recognising the increasing urgency of tackling ocean pollution, particularly from plastics and nutrients, the first of several planned Ocean Innovation Challenge focuses on SDG 14.1- Reduce Marine Pollution. This open call seeks innovations that are transferable, replicable and scalable offering grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000.

“To achieve SDG14, we must break new ground with innovative technologies, policies, regulations and financial instruments. In this regard, the new UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge is a most welcome addition to the growing number of ocean incubators and accelerators.” says Peter Thomson, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Oceans.

That is clear by now that the `business as usual` scenario will not deliver the transformational change needed to move towards sustainable ocean use.

The Ocean Innovation Challenge is issuing a series of 'Ocean Challenges' or Requests for Proposals, each focused on a specific SDG14 target.

This unique new support has been designed to accelerate progress on SDG14 by the identifying, financing, advising and mentoring of genuinely innovative, entrepreneurial and creative approaches to the ocean and coastal restoration and protection that sustains livelihoods and advances the ’blue economy’.

“At a time when the world’s oceans and seas face unprecedented pressures, UNDP’s new Ocean Innovation Challenge will shine a light on innovative, entrepreneurial and creative approaches that can advance ocean and coastal restoration and protection,” says Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator.

The first 'Ocean Challenge', launched on 8 January 2020, seeks innovative solutions to counter the scourge of ocean pollution.

Initial concepts may be submitted by public or private entities, including governments, private companies (including start-ups), NGO/CSO, United Nations entities, academic institutions, and intergovernmental organizations.

Interested applicants should submit their preliminary proposal here no later than 5 March 2020.

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January 2020

Ocean Action Conference

Szilvia Szabó — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 15:58:45 +0000

Ocean Action Conference

Tags

Ocean

Blue Economy

Conference

Date

5th February 2020

Venue

Brussels, Belgium

Our future depends on the protection and restoration of our seas and ocean. The Ocean Action! conference will bring together a wide variety of key players to chart a new route for our blue future.

OCEAN ACTION! is an all-day event hosted by Seas At Risk, the European association of 32 marine NGOs spanning 17 countries.

Here you can meet with activists, researchers, policy-makers, artists all working on issues related to our oceans and seas.

Alongside speakers, artists and visionaries have been invited to give their perspective of our ocean. Live art and demonstrations will be going on throughout the day, giving you the chance to interact and feel the ocean in a different way.

Our future depends on the protection and restoration of our seas and ocean. A healthy ocean is our best ally in the fight against the climate crisis. Yet, despite long-term political and legal commitments to protect and restore our marine environment, we are still not doing what needs to be done.

So what needs to change for seas and ocean to get better? This is the question that Ocean Action! will aim to answer.

Ocean Action! will bring togetherkey players to call on the EU for action on its commitment to protect and restore our seas and ocean. We will discuss the cost of inaction and chart a new route out of the crisis.

Join us: we need all hands on deck!

Ocean Action! Conference

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