Over 600,000 metric tons of fishing gear is lost to the oceans every year, consuming up to 30% of the world's fishery stocks while causing fleets to lose billions of dollars in revenue and gear replacement costs. Blue Ocean Gear's Smart Buoys are designed with a range of sensors that allow fishers to monitor the status of their gear whether onshore or on the water, receiving alerts of anomalous conditions so they can respond immediately and operate more efficiently.

This project is part of a Master's degree thesis in Marine Ecology that explores the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ) on the Mexican Tropical Eastern Pacific coast near the Gulf of California. With SOA funding, this project would use the Winkler method to conduct dissolved oxygen titrations to study the variability of the oxycline in relation to the presence of mesoscale processes in the seasonal cycle, including coastal currents. This would contribute to knowledge on OMZ permanence, distribution, and formation, which is pressing since OMZs are expected to expand under climate change.

Over the years, the ocean has played a critical role as a climate regulator by absorbing about 30% of human emissions of carbon dioxide, but the ocean health has been severely damaged as a result of plastic waste in the last two decades. This project seeks to leverage data and storytelling tools to spotlight the challenge of marine pollution and its dangers to society. The project also deploys a digital campaign involving use of short videos and infographics to educate residents across West Africa on the dangers of marine pollution, and improve practices of waste management.

Semarang, Java has heavily polluted beaches, including Mangunharjo beach, which is directly adjacent to local fishermen housing, and many low-income families. Due to lack of education and resources, many residents of this area throw litter in the ocean and the local estuary. Recently, women in the village have begun to make waste bank and upcycle their garbage into handicrafts, which they would like to sell for a living; but they lack the tools and training to develop and create a market for these items. This project aims to "accelerate" their handicraft enterprises.

St Abbs Marine Station scientists will use drone surveys and underwater imaging techniques (a less expensive alternative to helicopter survey) to assess the health of herring spawning grounds off the northeastern coast of Scotland, an under-researched area that is currently classified as being of “indeterminate intensity.” This area used to be prolific spawning ground until stocks were depleted in the 1970s, and research has not taken place since the 80s. They will be using the help of local fisherman to help ID spawning grounds with an aim to implement regular monitoring.

This grant supports Ocean Rescue Alliance's hybrid coral bio-engineered wave reduction modules (WRMs), which sustainably mitigate coastal infrastructure damage while bolstering a vibrant coral reef ecosystem. The WRMS was tested in the SUSTAIN wave tank in Miami prior to deployment. WRMs were successfully deployed, protecting coastlines by reducing wave energy while creating biologically important habitats.

Dennis and his team work with managers of the Anambas Islands Marine Tourism Park, a new management area made up of five small islands, to develop their regional marine management plan to: 1. Re-establish fish habitat and help to restore fish populations by providing artificial reefs of 40 coral spiders; 2. Increase the percentage of coral cover by transplanting 500 corals at restoration sites, and 3. Become a model of community-based conservation activities on small islands in Anambas.

Navier is bringing change to the maritime industry through the development of clean, efficient technology, unlocking a future where small vessels are clean, efficient, and easy to operate. The company’s unique multidisciplinary heritage combines deep maritime experience with rigorous expertise in aerospace and autonomous system engineering. In the long term, they view the Navier 27 as a platform for more than just fun. If small vessels can be made efficient and cost effective, they see a future where these craft can play an integral role in waterborne transportation.

Beatriz, founder of the Brazilian nonprofit Marulho, leads the recovery of fishing nets from the seafloor to turn them into salable products benefitting the local community.