Underwater seed harvester to restore seagrass

Join Us in Transforming Marine Conservation

Seagrass meadows are essential for the health of our oceans. They provide habitats for marine life, improve water quality, and store significant amounts of carbon. Unfortunately, these vital ecosystems are in decline. Here at Project Seagrass, we are on a mission to restore seagrass meadows. This will help create a healthier world, and protect against the impacts of climate change.

To achieve this, we are partnering with Tandem Ventures to develop an underwater seagrass harvester.

About Tandem Ventures

Tandem Ventures specialise in designing inventions to accelerate conservation and help good causes. Their mission is to create innovative solutions that address environmental, humanitarian and wildlife-related challenges. 

For this project, Tandem Ventures will design and build an automated underwater seagrass seed harvester to help Project Seagrass more efficiently collect seagrass seeds. This technology will make seagrass restoration faster, more efficient, and scalable.

The Problem

Currently, seagrass seed collection relies on divers using scissors - a slow and labour-intensive process. This bottleneck limits large-scale restoration efforts. We need to invent a new and radically better method this summer, while the seagrass is producing seeds. Time is ticking!

Our Solution: The Underwater Seagrass Seed Harvester

Key Features

• Automated Operation: Operates far more efficiently, reducing the need for manual labour.
• Efficient Collection: Gently harvests seeds without damaging the seagrass beds.
• Boat-Towed Design: Causes minimal disturbance to the seabed while covering large areas quickly.
• Adjustable: Key elements of the design can be adjusted to most efficiently collect Seagrass seeds in differing environments.
• Open-Source Design: Thoroughly documented and shareable plans, allowing replication and application worldwide.

Project Goals

Design and Development

• Research and Prototype Design: Collaborate with marine biologists and engineers to create a prototype.
• Prototype Testing: Ensure functionality and safety through rigorous testing.
• Iterative Improvements: Refine based on test results and feedback.

Field Testing and Deployment

• Pilot Programme: Test in real-world conditions to assess performance.
• Data Collection: Monitor effectiveness and impact on seagrass meadows.
• Global Deployment: Partner with environmental organisations for large-scale use.

How You Can Help

Funding Goals

We need to raise £30,000 to make this vision a reality:

If we meet our target, the £30,000 will be allocated as follows: £6,500 for design, research and prototyping, £15,000 for building the seagrass seed harvester, £2,500 for documentation, and £6,000 for testing and iteration.

Amplifying Impact

Any extra funding will continue to support our mission here at Project Seagrass to advance the conservation of seagrass through education, influence, research and action.

Join Us in Making a Difference

Your support is crucial for the future of our oceans. By backing this project, you're investing in innovative technology and a healthier planet. Together, we can restore seagrass meadows and protect marine life for generations to come.

About Project Seagrass

Project Seagrass is a marine conservation organisation based in Wales, committed to conserving seagrass ecosystems through community engagement, cutting-edge research, and actionable conservation efforts. Since 2013, we've been at the forefront of global seagrass conservation.

Thank You!

We are immensely grateful for your support. Let's make waves in marine conservation and bring our underwater seagrass seed harvester to life!