Rising Tides: Seaweed, Fish Feed, and Solving the Plastic Problem

Welcome to Rising Tides —a LinkedIn-exclusive newsletter brought to you by Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA) featuring the latest news and highlights from our growing network of 400+ ocean-based solutions and the innovative changemakers behind them.?

In this edition, you will learn about the intersectional potential between innovations in surfing gear and seaweed , how one company is turning insects and agricultural byproducts into sustainable fish feed , the journey of two BIPOC women from high school friends to pioneers in plastic waste , and more.?

Dive in below.

Founded by Olympian and two-time world surf champion John John Florence , outdoor industry brand Florence Marine X has partnered with sustainable packaging startup Sway to launch a limited edition boardshort packaged in Sway’s home compostable seaweed material.

This exciting collaboration was sparked by John John’s participation as a Judge in the 2023 TOM FORD Plastic Innovation Prize , championing Sway to their first-place victory.

Now, the two companies are partnering up to integrate Sway’s seaweed polybags into the Florence supply chain—starting with a limited edition boardshort that John John will be sporting this summer while competing in Tahiti for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Italian biotech startup, Ocean Twist Biotechnology , has successfully met three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda —SDG2 : ‘Zero Hunger’, SDG12 : ‘Responsible Consumption & Production’, and SDG14 : ‘Life Below Water’.

Last year, Ittinsect safeguarded over three million wild fish from industrial fishing, helped produce more than 23 thousand additional portions of fish at no extra costs, upcycled nearly 80 thousand kilograms of agro-industrial by-products, and secured €1.5 million in funding.?

Thanks to the support of 22 European fish farmers who have adopted Ittinsect’s innovative feeds, Ittinsect is actively contributing to the reduction of human impact on marine biodiversity through the company’s patent-pending biotechnological processes and strong commitment to circular economy principles.

U.S.-based maritime startup Photon Marine has been awarded a grant from Canada's Ocean Supercluster to advance the startup’s technology in decarbonizing marine propulsion and accelerate the sustainable transition of the maritime industry.?

Led by Photon Marine, the Canadian Electric Propulsion Acceleration Coalition (CEPAC) Project aims to establish a Canadian electric boat manufacturing supply chain, addressing challenges such as fleet electrification and hull design optimization. By advancing electric propulsion systems collaboratively, CEPAC will boost Canada’s competitiveness in the marine industry, establish a domestic, coast-to-coast supply chain, and foster new job creation.

“The CEPAC initiative will allow us to accelerate the transition to electric propulsion across key maritime sectors while reducing commercialization risk for the consortium members,” said Marcelino Alvarez , CEO of Photon Marine, on the program announcement. “Canada’s leadership in maritime decarbonization sets an example for the rest of the world.”

Novoloop co-founders Miranda Wang and Jeanny Yao are the focus of WaterBear Network ’s latest documentary short, In Love with a Problem .?

The original documentary follows the two women on their journey from discovering a plastic-eating bacteria as high school students in Vancouver to co-founding their own startup in Silicon Valley to tackle the plastic waste crisis with cutting-edge chemistry.?

Watch the full documentary here for free at WaterBear.

MARFLET MARINE S.A. , a private Spanish shipping company, has announced a new step in its decarbonization strategy by signing a contract with bound4blue to install the startup’s eSAIL technology on its oil and chemical tanker Santiago I.

Scheduled for mid-2025, the installation will make Marflet the first Spanish shipowner to integrate wind-assisted propulsion system (WAPS) in its merchant fleet. Modelling by bound4blue predicts a 10-15% reduction in annual energy consumption for Santiago I.

“This is a very significant contract for us, not only because Marflet is the first Spanish merchant fleet shipowner to join the wind revolution, but also because with this contract, we reinforce our position as the preferred solution for tankers,” says José Miguel Bermúdez Miquel , Co-Founder & CEO of bound4blue.?

“The wind revolution is here, and the time is now: as regulations become more stringent and stakeholders demand action to achieve environmental goals, solutions such as our eSAILs? allow owners to harness a natural, clean power source while also realizing significant commercial benefits.”

Apply to SOA’s Ecopreneur Network Class of 2024

Sustainable Ocean Alliance is actively seeking applicants to join the Class of 2024 Ecopreneur Network —a program of lifetime support that advances the world's most ambitious ocean startups and amplifies their efforts to achieve transformative planetary impact.?

General applications to join the Class of 2024 are open through October 4. Learn more and apply here .

Investment Opportunities in the Ecopreneur Network

If you are a mission-driven investor interested in connecting with and supporting any of the SOA’s startups , please email Camila Vega at [email protected] or Matthew Mulrennan at [email protected] .

July 10-12, Startupfest – Montréal, Québec

Startupfest returns for the 14th edition of Canada’s original startup event this week in Montréal. This annual gathering aims to chart the course of technology entrepreneurship in a one-of-a-kind festival atmosphere, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, makers, large enterprises, industry veterans, and startup communities from around the world.

If you plan to attend Startupfest, Whale Seeker Founder & CEO Emily Charry Tissier will be speaking on the panel, Leveraging Ocean AI , on July 11, 2024 at 11:15am EDT at the Sky Stage (details here ).?

Register for the in-person event here .

July 18, Marine Tech Mixer – San Francisco, CA

Join Schmidt Marine Technology Partners and Good Machine in San Francisco on July 18 for a gathering of the Bay Area ocean community.

The goal of this mixer is to provide a space for the ocean conservation and technology community to congregate, share ideas, and collaborate. Anyone with an interest in furthering the protection and understanding of our world’s oceans is welcome to join—scientists, engineers, advocates, entrepreneurs, investors, students, and more!

Drinks and food provided. Doors open at 5:00pm local time, and the event will wrap up at 8:00pm.?

Register for the free in-person event here .

Thanks for reading!?

Stay tuned for future editions of Rising Tides , dropping the second Wednesday of every month.