Keeping Marine Biodiversity Afloat with Biomimetic Mooring Buoys
Organization information
Pure Ocean
Location: Paris, France
Summary
Pure Ocean supports ambitious and innovative research projects in favour of biodiversity and the protection of marine ecosystems.
Purpose of the project: design a subsurface mooring buoy inspired by sea sponges to preserve Posidonia seagrass beds and promote local biodiversity
Although seagrasses account for less than 0.2% of the world's oceans, they sequester approximately 10% of the carbon buried in ocean sediment annually and are valuable biodiversity hotspots. In the Mediterranean Sea, highly frequented yachting and scuba diving sites generate anchoring areas that affect Posidonia seagrass. However, even the mooring buoys supposed to fix this problem are made of fossil-fuel based materials and require regular maintenance to withstand UVs and fouling. The #FRF project aims to develop a biomimetic, eco-designed and sustainable subsurface buoy. Inspired by sea sponges, the buoy provides many surfaces for local species to attach and find refuge. Using recycled materials and with a low carbon impact, this concept could be easily replicated all around the world.
Pure Ocean is an NGO based in Marseille and Lorient, France. Pure Ocean mobilises civil society, in France and worldwide, in order to support ambitious and innovative projects to protect and restore biodiversity and fragile marine ecosystems.
TGE Partner: Fondation de France
Project locations
France