The Port of San Diego supports a 15th pilot project to improve biodiversity
At the Port of San Diego, the Board of Port Commissioners has approved a new Blue Economy Incubator (BEI) pilot project with Ocean Ecostructures intended to increase the biodiversity within San Diego Bay.
Ocean Ecostructures has developed a way to jump-start marine life on human-made ocean structures. The startup's biodiversity regeneration technology is designed to enhance biodiversity at ports and measure their environmental impact without disrupting a port’s daily operations.
The newest pilot project is the 15th supported by the BEI since the program was launched in 2016. The BEI has since become a leader of the region’s blue economy.
“Innovation and sustainability are leading the way in protecting the vital resource that is San Diego Bay,” said Ann Moore, who chair’s the Board of Port Commissioners.
The agreement with Ocean Ecostructures is capped at $208,000 in exchange for royalties on future gross revenues of up to $1.25 million. The two-year pilot project will be deployed in multiple locations throughout San Diego Bay and monitored for effectiveness.
“After deploying our technology across Europe and the Middle East, this collaboration marks an important milestone in our expansion into the U.S. market,” said Ignasi Ferrer, CEO and co-founder of Ocean Ecostructures. “It gives us the opportunity to demonstrate in San Diego how marine infrastructure can actively contribute to restoring ocean biodiversity, generating measurable environmental and socioeconomic impact that can be translated into tangible corporate value.”