116th Edition
Hi everyone!
Recommending everyone sign this petition created by Surfrider to make it known that we do not want NEW offshore oil drilling happening in the US (why it is still happening at all?). I know that petitions may feel useless in this constant onslaught but let’s reframe it to the bare minimum of our civic duty as ocean-lovers.
Anyways… to the good stuff!
News
Equinor and Captura have successfully completed a joint qualification program validating Captura’s Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) system, transforming it from pilot-scale to commercially deployable status and paving the way for full-scale CO₂ removal projects with the potential to capture tens of thousands of tons annually.
The Blue Belt Programme has launched its first Caribbean expedition. The “Beyond the Reef” survey is set for January–February 2026, which will deploy 46 scientists aboard the RRS James Cook to explore roughly 9,400 km² of previously unmapped deep waters off Anguilla, the Turks & Caicos, and the Cayman Islands to gather biodiversity, fisheries, seabed and pollution data that will inform marine protection and sustainable management across the region.
The WWF‑Brasil reports that COP30 marked a turning point for ocean-climate action. For the first time, they report, ocean-based solutions were formally embedded into the global climate agenda, boosting global ambition for mitigation, adaptation, and sustainable ocean governance.
Check out this profile on Seascape Aquatech, who is using robotics and AI automation to transform oyster farming by streamlining tasks from nursery to harvest, cutting labor costs, boosting yields, and modernizing one of the most labor-intensive areas of shellfish aquaculture— I got to hear about their work firsthand at the NYC OceanTech Summit this year 👀.
The latest issue of the Journal of Ocean Technology has been released, focusing on Indigenous Ocean Technology.
Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (OSC) has announced four new ocean-innovation projects totaling CA $13 million+, targeting sustainable seafood, digital vessel systems, marine monitoring, and AI-powered ocean technologies.
Opportunities
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute has opened applications for the BlueTech Boost, which is a 10-week hybrid incubator program. Applications are due on December 12th.
Newlab, in collaboration with NYCEDC’s Venture Access NYC initiative, has applications open for their NYC Founder Fellowship until December 31st.
The Seaworthy Collective has opened applications for their 7th cohort, due January 28th.
OceanHub Africa has opened applications for the 7th cohort of their accelerator program, which will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The first intake of the year (2026) begins in March.
Applications are open for the Great Lakes Blue Tech Challenge. Apply here.
Applications are open for call for projects issued to the scientific community throughout the European Economic Area (EEA) on the topic of Ocean and Coastal Ecosystems.
Hatch Blue, an aquaculture and alternative seafood investor, is looking for startups to join their accelerator program, in which they will invest $75,000 in each successful applicant.
Apply to Katapult’s Ocean Accelerator program that is designed to guide founders through complex entrepreneurial issues, add structure, and help raise a startup’s next round.
Fair Carbon has launched a Blue Carbon Academy that aims to help with the fine-tuning of the design of a Blue Carbon project.
Join the Blue Growth Community to get access to opportunities, expertise, and connections as an innovator.
Events
From April 28th – 30th, the Carbon to Sea Initiative will be having their annual convening in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The 7th World Conference for Marine Biodiversity will be taking place in Belgium 17-20 November 2026. You can register here.
Learning
Check out this episode of the 4Nature podcast, where the Director of Blue Finance & Scaling at ORRAA discusses “Unlocking Capital for a Regenerative Blue Economy”.
This paper reveals that achieving a truly sustainable and equitable blue economy depends less on natural resource availability and more on social and governance factors such as stability, corruption, and infrastructure. Subsequently, this emphasizes the need for evidence-based, collaborative planning to align ocean development with social, environmental, and economic goals.