Note from our Founder

Vibrant kelp forests are the cornerstone of healthy marine ecosystems globally. However, our kelp forests are under strain in many parts of the world due to the release of unprecedented amounts of carbon into our air and sea, the cumulative impact of global warming, ocean acidification, combined with overfishing.

These factors have created the perfect conditions for sea urchins to reproduce unhindered, to overgraze on the kelp forests and transforming this habitat into a near lifeless, empty, barren desert void of shelter and breeding grounds for fish. No kelp means no fish, no carbon sequestration, no jobs.

At Urchinomics, our overarching vision is to restore kelp forests and support coastal communities at a global scale, which will sequester carbon in the deep ocean whilst restoring the habitat for abundant marine life. 

For example today, more than 95% of California’s coastal kelp are gone, with one area encompassing 400 miles of coastline from Marin County to the Oregon border. With 40 to 60% of kelp forests disappearing and with 1⁄4 of coastal ecosystems comprising of kelp forests, the ecological and economic loss is disastrous.

More than 95% of California’s coastal kelp are gone, with one area encompassing 400 miles of coastline from Marin County to the Oregon border.

To achieve that goal we’ve harnessed the power of the natural world with our pioneering nature-based solutions, combined with our profitable and novel commercial approach helping to regenerate coastal marine ecosystems. This ecologically sensitive way to fight climate change also has the benefit of tasting great, creating a new restorative seafood (uni) category in the process.

Lastly, the restoration of kelp forests also generates blue carbon credits, biodiversity credits, and ecosystem services impact value, which further finance the global scale removal of barren urchins.

I passionately believe many of our global challenges we face today are caused by poor incentives. My goal with Urchinomics is to prove that, when incentives are properly aligned, and the spirit of human innovation is unleashed, ecological restoration, social development and company profits can be achieved hand-in-hand. Through innovation and profit, we aim to reverse the decline of our delicate coastal marine ecosystem.

Please read on to find out more about our work at Urchinomics.

Brian Tsuyoshi Takeda