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Urchinomics

Providing the seafood industry with urchin roe while rehabilitating lost kelp forests

Employees 6–20
Headquarters IJmuiden, North Holland, Netherlands
Urchinomics is a blue carbon credit generating, restorative aquaculture venture that aims to turn an environmental challenge into a commercial, ecological and social opportunity. Overfishing of predatory species, climate change and pollution has allowed sea urchins to explode in population. Uncontrolled quantities of sea urchins overgraze kelp forests and seagrass meadows, turning once pristine and vibrant marine ecosystems into lifeless, barren deserts, or "Urchin barrens". Urchinomics specifically targets these ecologically destructive, empty sea urchins and re-homes them into their ranching systems, where they are converted from an ecological pest to premium sea urchin roe, or "uni". And by removing them from the barrens, they help kelp forests recover to their original healthy ecosystem.

Notable Achievements

  • Closing EUR 5M fundraise with ENEOS, Japan´s largest energy company and Lukas Walton´s Builders Vision
  • Secured the world´s first voluntary blue carbon credit from wild kelp restoration
  • Launching the world's first commercial scale urchin ranch in Oita Prefecture, Japan in April 2021

Currently Operating in Four Regions

Press Mentions

May 6, 2024

The significance of Japan’s blue carbon calculations

Read on The Fish Site »

January 30, 2023

Cadman Capital Group acquires strategic stake in North Holland-based Urchinomics

Read on Silicon Canals »

September 9, 2021

These urchin slayers are trying to save California’s underwater 'rainforest'

Read on Grist »

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