Pure Ocean is a European endowment fund that mobilises civil society, worldwide, in order to support ambitious and innovative oceanic research projects on the themes of biodiversity, climate and health.
The Ocean is essential to life on Earth. It covers 71% of the surface of the planet and produces half of the oxygen we breathe. It absorbs 25% of the CO2 emissions, thus playing a key role in climate regulation. It is a precious source of solutions for human health: thirteen Nobel Prizes in medicine were awarded based on oceanic research. The Ocean is facing immense threats: climate change, overexploitation of its resources (fishing, mining, energy etc.), plastic pollution to name a few. We can no longer ignore the Ocean's health, it is urgent to take action.
Pure Ocean supports innovative applied research projects, worldwide, to:
- conserve marine biodiversity, protect and restore fragile marine ecosystems;
- find concrete solutions for the sustainable exploitation of marine resources;
- discover compounds (molecules, enzymes, virus, bacteria etc.), develop models
or processes of medical interest for human health
- increase knowledge of the Ocean and contribute to fighting climate change.
Three types of innovation are considered in the ambitious projects we support:
• Technological: underwater robots, environmental DNA, drones, ...
• Social: citizen science, community involvement, ...
• Ecological: biomimicry, nature-based solutions, protected marine areas, ....
In 2019, our independent Scientific Committee, composed of renowned authorities in international climate and ocean research, selected 6 projects (see below). In 2020, our second call for projects received over 150 applications from 40 countries including several proposals focused on oceanic research for human health.
With Pure Ocean, step up support of oceanic research for health and biodiversity!
OVERVIEW OF THE FIRST PURE OCEAN PROJECTS
MARINE SPONGES TO ABSORB PLASTICS?
In the Mediterranean, Marta and her team’s research is on sea sponges. These organisms filter seawater for food. They then filter out the micro-plastics and chemical compounds dissolved in the seawater, potentially “destroying” them and transforming them into particles that are edible by other organisms. This research may, one day, enable us to reduce plastic pollution in the sea.
DEEPSEA EXPLORATION OF SEAMOUNTS
Ariadna, a young researcher is discovering the biodiversity present in the great depths off Easter Island. For the first time, new families of tropical starfish have been identified through her ROV (Remotely Operated underwater Vehicle) exploration of the Pukao and Apolo seamounts (+or-200m). A great opportunity to reflect on the creation of new marine protected areas to preserve the amazing biodiversity of seamounts.
INNOVATIVE LAND-BASED AQUACULTURE TO PRESERVE THE CARIBBEAN REEF ECOSYSTEMS
Enrique and his team experiment closed-circuit land-based aquaculture with a pilot lab in the Yucatan, where aquifers are infiltrated with seawater. They develop “integrated multi-trophic aquaculture”, which consists of simultaneously rearing fish, mollusks and marine plants: each species finding a source of food in the waste of the other species. A closed circuit food chain, inspired by nature’s own that has functioned for over 4 billion years. The first tests are encouraging: tilapia, mussels and algae have acclimatized very well to the underground seawater.
AN APP TO MONITOR COASTAL MARINE BIODIVERSITY
As part of a citizen science program, Laura and her team are developing a mobile application for divers to enable the collection of data on marine biodiversity. Data collection is essential to better know and protect the environment. Thanks to participatory science, the general public becomes an actor in research and helps to protect the planet. Voluntary divers can – following an established scientific protocol – make observations, measurements or counts and transmit the data for processing and analysis by scientists.
IMPROVE WATER QUALITY THANKS TO SATELLITE IMAGES
At the border between the ocean and the continents, coastal waters are home to a rich biodiversity and complex habitats, which are subject to natural pressures accentuated by human activities. The challenge is to work on a statistical model based on 20 years of satellite images of European coastal waters: measuring the color of the water enables the acquisition of qualitative and quantitative data on the biogeochemical composition of surface waters. Output: essential information to decision makers to take measures to stabilize and enhance natural biodiversity.
CANADA'S CLIMATE CHANGE SENTINEL FERRY
Eric, in Canada, took advantage of the arrival of the ice and the immobilization of the ferry serving the Nunatsiavut region, to install high-tech measuring instruments acquired thanks to the Pure Ocean grant. Inuit students will be recruited and trained to monitor changes in salinity, PH and other key indicators of climate change. Measurements will begin as early as June, in this area of Canada’s far north, which is very sensitive to climate change.