127th Edition

Mar 18, 2026

Hi everyone!

Four different opportunities have deadlines by the end of the month, so be sure to double check them!

Also, the NYC OceanTech Summit team has been working on another exciting year… stay tuned for updates.

Indian aquaculture startup AquaExchange has raised $8 million in a Series B round to scale its AI- and IoT-driven platform that helps shrimp and fish farmers improve productivity, access financing, and modernize operations across the global aquaculture value chain.
Scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have developed a novel gel that releases chemical cues to attract coral larvae, dramatically increasing their settlement on damaged reefs and offering a promising new tool to accelerate coral reef restoration efforts amid worsening climate impacts.
The Commonwealth Secretariat’s Guide to Blue Bond Issuance provides governments with a practical, step-by-step framework to evaluate, design, and implement sovereign blue bonds. This highlights both their potential to finance ocean conservation and sustainable blue economies and the complex fiscal, governance, and project-pipeline requirements needed for successful deployment.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed a dolphin-inspired autonomous robot that uses a specialized oil-attracting, water-repellent filter and swarm-like behavior to efficiently collect and remove oil slicks at sea.

SeaAhead has launched their “Pilot” program that aims to connect pilot-ready startups with real-world customers and end-users. This year’s theme is Coastal Resilience and Coastal Asset Protection. Apply by March 20th.
Apply to the Ocean Innovation Africa conference from 23-25 March 2026 in Durban to develop your Blue Economy business in South Africa.
Applications for MTS Scholarships are due on March 23rd.
The Ocean Community Challenge 2026 has opened their applications, closing March 30th.
OceanHub Africa has opened applications for the 7th cohort of their accelerator program, which will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications close April 17th.
The newest iteration of UCSC’s Blue Pioneer’s program has been announced, this year taking place as a two week immersion acceleration in Zanzibar. Check here for more details.
Canada’s first blue economy accelerator Blue Action Canada has opened applications for their 2026 cohort.
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.

Hatch Blue and Bigelow Laboratory are cohosting the “North Atlantic Blue BioTech Summit” on March 19th in Portland, Maine.
Ocean Innovation Africa 2026 will be occurring March 23-25 in Durban, South Africa.
As a part of Oceans Week at Duke, Oceans@Duke is hosting a Blue Economy Summit on March 25th from 12PM-5PM.
The next Ocean Nexus Webinar entitled “Marine knowledge generation and SSF rightsholders: Where are we?” is on March 25th at 12PM ET.
Join The Blue Economy and Climate Action Pathways (BECAP) Summit on March 25th in Wilmington, California.
On March 27th, there is a webinar “Tideline Startup Program x Sustainable AI Coalition benefits” to learn more about a program taking place June 1-3. Register here.
The Carbon to Sea Initiative is hosting a webinar on “Examining MRV practices across five OAE projects” on March 31st.
East Meets West will be taking place in Oahu from April 8-9.
From April 28th – 30th, the Carbon to Sea Initiative will be having their annual convening in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The WeOcean International Workshop will be taking place in Faro, Portugal from May 4-6.
The 7th World Conference for Marine Biodiversity will be taking place in Belgium 17-20 November 2026. You can register here.

This Food and Agriculture Organization article highlights how seaweed is emerging as a powerful “blue food” solution—offering nutrient-rich diets, climate-resilient livelihoods (especially for women-led coastal communities), and wide-ranging environmental benefits from carbon capture to water purification—while outlining global efforts to scale sustainable seaweed industries as a cornerstone of the future ocean economy.
Check out this panel discussion regarding how citizen science can mobilize collective knowledge to support marine observation, climate resilience and ecosystem protection.
This UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission training course, delivered through the OceanTeacher Global Academy, equips ocean professionals with the skills to build and lead communities of practice for ocean data sharing. It combines technical knowledge, collaborative frameworks, and practical training to strengthen global coordination and effective management of ocean data systems.

Seaking Blue