The Mother Reef

Video

Description

The Mother Reef is a new natural and biodegradable artificial reef substrate designed to unlock scale in oyster reef regeneration. The design is innovative, not just because of the new form, but because of its functional and logistical characteristics. It’s made of clay and can be produced cheaply from brick factories, moved in globally standard units and deployed by generic fishing vessels in any logistical systems anywhere in the world, allowing us to reach the scalability that oyster restoration efforts require today.

Story

Globally, 85% of oyster reefs in nature are gone. Oyster reefs are one of the most imperiled marine habitats in the world, and essential keystone species for the marine ecosystem.
Oyster restoration is urgently needed. Restoration efforts have been done across the globe in the past decades. However, the scale of such projects is often very limited due to the lack of resources and a scalable substrate for oysters to settle on.

That’s why we invented the Mother Reef.

The Mother Reef bricks are the most cost-efficient substrate for oyster regeneration. They are the essential scaffolding to cover the deserted sea floor and support oysters as they grow into fully formed self-sustaining reefs. We pre-charge them with at least 50 oysters each before we plant them into our oceans.

Link

• https://oysterheaven.org/our-technology/

Images

Judge’s Comments

Hiroshi Irie

Manager at the East Japan Railway Company in the Innovation Strategy Division, Digital Business Unit

Earthwide Restoration Prize

The disappearance of 85% of the world’s oyster reefs due to environmental changes has had a tremendous impact on marine ecosystems. It could also be a threat to humanity in the long term. This project is reversing that trend by producing and distributing mother reef bricks, contributing significantly to the restoration of these underwater ecosystems. This will also benefit food supply and demand in the medium to long term and is aligned with the goals of the SDGs. The project has massive potential to scale up globally as the mother reef bricks can be deployed on standard fishing vessels, making this a highly practical and realistic solution.

David Tena Vicente

FabCafe Barcelona CEO

The Ocean Restoration Award

By creating a new, biodegradable artificial reef substrate, "The Mother Reef" offers a scalable and cost-effective solution for oyster reef regeneration. Its design, leveraging widely available materials like clay, is both innovative and practical, enabling large-scale restoration efforts.

The project's impact extends beyond environmental rejuvenation. It plays a pivotal role in supporting coastal communities and fishermen, who are integral to its implementation. By involving these communities in planting and monitoring the reefs, the project not only provides new jobs but also contributes to preserving traditional livelihoods. This approach fosters a deep connection between people and their marine environment, encouraging stewardship and sustainable practices.