Ocean Era Inc. is a Hawaii-based aquaculture company dedicated to cultivating native Hawaiian seaweed (limu) for sustainable food, biofuel, and other valuable products. Our innovative farming techniques harness the power of the ocean to produce high-quality, nutrient-rich seaweed while supporting biodiversity and environmental health.
As a leader in seaweed aquaculture, we're committed to revitalizing traditional Hawaiian limu practices and contributing to the global transition to a more sustainable future.
The Ocean Era MARINER team is on the cusp of launching the Blue Fields Offshore Macroalgae Demonstration Project, a groundbreaking initiative to cultivate sustainable seaweed off the coast of Makalawena Beach, Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi. With crucial funding support from ARPA-E, we have successfully completed nearly all laboratory trials. The offshore site has been approved, and Makai Ocean Engineering has finalized the design. We are currently in the material ordering phase and anticipate deploying our innovative submersible growing platform, situated approximately 1.5 nautical miles offshore, within the coming months. Anchored at a depth of about 120 meters (400 feet), this system is engineered to minimize any impact on the delicate marine ecosystem, safeguarding water quality, coral reefs, and dolphin habitats.
This demonstration project will validate advanced technologies for cultivating native or endemic Hawaiian macroalgae species, harnessing only natural ocean and solar energies. Building upon our successful on-shore trials at Ocean Era's research facility in Kona, this offshore deployment marks a significant step towards unlocking the potential of macroalgae as a novel and environmentally responsible energy resource.
Ocean Era's production research has focused on optimizing seaweed yields through controlled tank experiments and flume tank trials. Our studies have explored various factors influencing growth, including:
• Stocking density: Optimal stocking densities for different seaweed species have been determined to maximize yield and minimize competition.
• Nutrient supplementation: The effectiveness of different nutrient sources, such as deep seawater (DSW) and fish effluent, has been evaluated for promoting seaweed growth.
• Environmental conditions: The impact of factors like temperature, light intensity, and water flow on seaweed development has been investigated.
• Attachment methods: Innovative attachment techniques have been explored to enhance seaweed growth and reduce losses.
Our research has yielded significant findings, including:
• High yield potential: Seaweed species like Halymenia hawaiiana have demonstrated impressive growth rates and yields under optimal conditions.
• Nutrient flexibility: Certain seaweed species have shown adaptability to different nutrient sources, including ammonia-rich fish effluent.
• Environmental adaptability: Seaweed has been found to be resilient to varying environmental conditions, such as changes in water flow and nutrient availability.
Based on our research, Ocean Era is exploring future opportunities in:
• Expanding seaweed production: Scaling up operations to meet increasing demand for seaweed-based products.
• Developing value-added products: Creating innovative products from seaweed biomass, such as food ingredients and biofuels.
• Supporting sustainable aquaculture: Developing seaweed-based feed ingredients for aquaculture species to reduce their carbon footprint.
• Contributing to local economies: Promoting the growth of seaweed aquaculture in Hawaii and other Pacific Island nations.