On World Oceans Day let’s have a look at some of the most promising startups working on solutions that could help protect our oceans, seas, and waterways. All the startups on this list are focused on SDG 14, “Life below water” which put into practice means “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”.
The Great Bubble Barrier
The Great Bubble Barrier is one of the simplest but at the same time most efficient solutions to remove plastics from rivers and waterways and protect life below water.
A perforated tube is placed at the bottom of the waterway and pumps air. This creates a “bubble curtain” and since the tube is placed diagonally, it is possible to push plastic waste into a catching system. There are several benefits of using the Great Bubble Barrier compared to other systems as it doesn’t disrupt the ship traffic, it is safe for fish and it’s very versatile to install.
SafetyNet Technologies
Fishermen have an important role in protecting life below water, so why not equip them with the right tools to make their activity more sustainable?
This is the concept behind SafetyNet Technologies a startup that last April raised 2.4 Million USD to help improve its flagship technology, Pisces, a special led lights kit that gets attached to fishnets and can help attract target species whilst simultaneously deterring unwanted bycatch. SafetyNet Technologies will also use these funds to develop a robust and affordable underwater camera that can attach to most fishing gear and a sensor node that collects essential marine environmental data.
This sensor node could be attached to fishing gear, enabling fishing crews to collect data on temperature, salinity, turbidity, and depth of the sea and making them part of the global efforts to collect and use data to protect life below water.
IntelliReefs
IntelliReefs uses a material called Oceanite to help to restore coral reefs degraded by hurricanes, bleaching, overfishing, and acidification.
Oceanite was developed by IntelliReefs specifically for diverse coral growth, reef restoration, and immediate integration with local ecosystems. It is composed of proprietary marine mineral matrices that include high-grade limestone, aragonite, and diverse pozzolanic (calcium-binding) components at the nano-scale.
Considering that an estimate of a quarter of oceans’ reefs are damaged permanently and 70% of the remaining ones are at risk, IntelliReefs could have a serious positive impact on the hundreds of species that live in reefs and on the life below water in general.
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Open Ocean Robotics
Data are essential to understand better our oceans and protect the life below water. In this context, Open Ocean Robotics could help with its solar-powered USVs that collect and process data with their AI.
USVs could stay in the water for months to monitor the environment for risks to marine life and maritime security. This provides a critical solution for safeguarding marine protected areas (MPAs), protecting marine mammals, and securing waters from crime including illegal fishing, smuggling, human trafficking, and threats to critical infrastructure.
The startup founded by Julie Angus has raised 4 Million USD in December 2021 and is looking to use these funds to further develop its USVs in the upcoming months.
Voltai
This Canadian startup features perhaps one of the most promising technology to help marine industries cut fuel costs and reduce emissions. Its motion absorbing generator harvests energy from motion at 100 x energy density compared to traditional turbines.
The company founded by Maja Maher is a spin-out of the Nova Institute and it’s currently located at the COVE Center – Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship – in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed here by Impakter.com columnists are their own, not those of Impakter.com – In the Featured Photo: A sea turtle near the Galapagos Islands. Photo credit: Unsplash
