In the Long Island Sound, a company called GreenWave has set up "multi-species 3-D ocean farms" that grow seaweed, scallops, mussels, clams and oysters. "GreenWave's integrated model shifts the practice of aquaculture from growing vulnerable monocultures to creating vibrant ecosystems, which produce higher yields. The infrastructure is simple: seaweed, scallops and mussels grow on floating ropes, stacked above oyster and clam cages below. From these crops ocean farmers can produce food, fertilizers, animal feeds, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biofuels and much more."
Currently, the farms grow 30 to 60 tons of seaweed a year. Some of this is sold in nearby New York City. Google also buys the seafood to serve its employees.
GreenWave project recently received a big endorsement in the shape of the $100,000 2015 Fuller Challenge Prize from the Buckminster Fuller Institute. With the $100,000, GreenWave plans to set up 10 more people on his startup program. The deal is, GreenWave gives people free seed, two years of training and consulting, and GreenWave agrees to buy 80% of their product for five years at triple market rate. This should be enough to stabilize the farms and get people going. (As a side benefit, Patagonia is offering each of the startups free gear.)
