Welcome to Ocean Exchange’s blog page, where we share insights and perspectives on the Blue Economy from members of our global ecosystem. Those include former finalists and winners, review team members and other experts in their fields, sponsors, and other key players in industry, academia, and more. These blogs are featured in our Newsletter, Navigator, as well as showcased here. Please contact us if you are interested in contributing or would like to work with us to develop an idea.
Ocean Exchange Blog
Our blog is an expansion of our long-running newsletter guest columns in which members of our ecosystem share insights about the Blue Economy.
July 30, 2026
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BLOG: Catalyzing the Blue Economy in Southeast Asia: Insights from the Seaweed Value Chain
Coastal communities in Southeast Asia contribute to nearly a third of the world's seaweed production, and the region has massive scaling potential. Despite growing momentum and supportive policy developments in parts of Southeast Asia, several structural challenges remain. Drawing on experience in the seaweed value chain, Tessa Charupatanapongse of Potato Impact Partners highlight some catalysts…
May 29, 2026
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BLOG: Africa’s Blue Economy Is Ready for Investment-Grade Innovation
Africa’s blue economy is often framed as “untapped potential.” That’s true—but increasingly incomplete. The question is no longer whether Africa has blue economy opportunity. The question is how quickly we can connect these solutions to the markets, partners, and capital that help them scale.
April 30, 2026
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BLOG: Updates from 2025 Collegiate Winners
For this month’s blog we checked in with last year’s collegiate winners. We have updates from the 2025 recipient of the Guy Harvey Collegiate Award, Iluminar el Mar, and the winners of last year’s two Ocean Exchange Collegiate Awards: Ignition Packaging and OctaPulse.
March 27, 2026
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Illuminating the Deep with Orpheus Ocean
The deep ocean is Earth’s largest and least understood ecosystem. It regulates climate, supports biodiversity, and underpins emerging sectors of the blue economy - yet it remains largely inaccessible to humanity. Orpheus Ocean was founded to change that reality.
February 26, 2026
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Cecilia Is Transforming Plastic Into Circular Carbon Nanomaterials
What if we lived in a fully circular world where plastic pollution never enters the ocean—and instead becomes valuable materials?
January 28, 2026
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From Video to Living Data: Using Artificial Life Simulation to Make the Ocean Measurable
Despite decades of progress in ocean science, one fundamental challenge remains unresolved: the ocean is still largely unmeasured at biological resolution.
August 1, 2025
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South Florida’s Marine Industry: A Hub of Innovation and Impact in the Blue Economy
South Florida’s marine industry is a cornerstone of the Florida economy, driving significant economic output and job creation. But it’s also a hotbed of marine innovation.
July 2, 2025
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Unlocking Blue Economy Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean
The staff at Ocean Exchange recently connected with Ben Zehr and Karine Yuki of Reciprocal Studio. They are identifying and energizing ocean based innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). We've long sought a wider network in Latin America and welcome this new connection. Read their business case for all of us to take…
May 21, 2025
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Phoenix Waste Solutions — Winner of the 2024 Neptune® Award for $100,000 USD
Since winning one of Ocean Exchange’s $100,000 grants in 2024, Phoenix Waste Inc. has secured nearly $2 million in non-dilutive funding, including highly competitive awards from the National Science Foundation and a contract with the U.S. Air Force.
February 27, 2025
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CarbonBridge — winner of the 2024 Orcelle® Award for $100,000 USD
CarbonBridge converts gas into marine energy, cleanly, using microbes. This ultra low carbon methanol allows for highly economical compliance through blending. This enables a constant decrease in carbon footprint, down to net-zero.
January 27, 2025
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Oyster Reef Restoration – A Smart Investment
Oyster Heaven is honoured to have received the 2024 Neptune Award, recognising our innovative solution to accelerate oyster reef restoration and our contribution to healthier, more resilient oceans with our unique methodology and impact-based business model.
November 19, 2024
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Where are they now? Following up with our 2023 winners one year later
As we finish up our 2024 award cycle, we take a look back at our 2023 winners with an update about what they have accomplished this year with the help of our awards.
September 17, 2024
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The Environmental Impact of Oysters
Oysters have long been celebrated for their culinary delicacy, but their ecological importance should have a spotlight of its own. These remarkable shellfish are vital components in maintaining the health and balance of coastal marine ecosystems around the world.
July 23, 2024
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The Power of Partnerships in Ocean Innovation: Jacob Ruytenbeek, CEO of SailPlan
While it might be daunting to push the movement and measures to protect, preserve and regenerate the ocean and blue systems, when someone asks what gives me hope, one of my first answers is partnerships and collaborations.
June 18, 2024
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Partnerships for the Blue: Stewart Sarkozy, World Ocean Council / Okhtapus
While it might be daunting to push the movement and measures to protect, preserve and regenerate the ocean and blue systems, when someone asks what gives me hope, one of my first answers is partnerships and collaborations.
May 6, 2024
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Navigating towards a Greener Horizon: Maritime Decarbonization and Sustainability
As the world’s attention turns increasingly towards sustainability, the urgent need to decarbonize shipping operations has become increasingly apparent. Maritime decarbonization and sustainability are now at the forefront of discussions at Ocean Exchange, as we seek innovative solutions to address this hard-to-abate sector’s carbon footprint.
January 31, 2024
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New Advances in Offshore CO2 Monitoring
Learn about new advances in offshore CO2 monitoring with Rick Schrynemeeckers, Amplified Geochemical Imaging, as he explains geologic sequestration as a method of carbon capture and sequestration.
September 30, 2023
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Spurring Cutting-Edge Marine Innovation: Blue Tech advancements reach a one-year milestone in Israel
Blue Tech advancements reach a one-year milestone in Israel.
August 29, 2023
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Marine Biofilms at Valdosta State University
Our students made it to the finals at Ocean Exchange for their work with (i) a novel method to restore oyster populations (ii) a unique method to synthesize pharmaceuticals in the ocean (iii) an antibiotic that worked against drug resistant Tb. Our tremendous experience with Ocean Exchange helped refine our fundamental studies to be products…
June 29, 2023
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Nutrient Pollution and the Planetary Boundaries
Most people know that nutrient pollution of water is a Bad Thing—it causes nuisance algae growth and harmful algal blooms, or HABs. Fewer people realize, however, that nutrient pollution has gotten so bad that it puts the entire planet at risk.
May 27, 2023
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Unapologetic Opinions From A Carbon Footprint Calculation Expert
Until now, vital ocean observing activities that underpin human safety, marine health, blue economies, and sustainable development have largely been managed by the scientific sector and pillared on public projects. But today, private companies are stepping into the field with promising opportunities for a blue data and services revolution.
May 3, 2023
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Shaping the Future Ocean Observing and Services Market
Until now, vital ocean observing activities that underpin human safety, marine health, blue economies, and sustainable development have largely been managed by the scientific sector and pillared on public projects. But today, private companies are stepping into the field with promising opportunities for a blue data and services revolution.
March 20, 2023
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The Great Lakes Need Innovation
By Ed Bailey, Director, Marine Center at Northwestern Michigan College The Great Lakes region represents 27% of the combined US and Canadian population and 28% of the Canadian and US economic activity. It holds 21% of the world’s freshwater and supplies 40 million people with drinking water on both sides of the Canada-US border. The…
February 17, 2023
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Navigating the Seas as an Early Career Professional
By: Colin Kelly, Business Development Manager, ecoSPEARS A childhood with summers and holidays in Long Island, New York, an introduction to sustainable aquaculture by a loving grandfather and lots of fresh and saltwater fishing led me to pursue Marine Biology for my undergraduate degree from Rollins College. An internship at Cornell Cooperative Extension Unit researching…
January 23, 2023
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Microcredentials in the Blue Economy
By Liesl Hotaling, President, Eidos Education There is a global need for skilled workers across multiple sectors within the marine industry. By 2030 it is estimated that the industry will employ at least 40 million full time equivalent jobs. The fastest growth is anticipated within offshore wind energy, marine aquaculture, fish processing and port activities.…
December 1, 2022
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Connecting Dots and Crossing Sectors at Ocean Exchange 2022
By Rick Claar, President, The Martec Group I recently attended the annual Ocean Exchange event and came away with quite a few “a-ha” moments. What I was struck by in particular was that, going in, I expected to learn about all sorts of innovations and advancements in technology and methodologies to protect and preserve our…
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