NYK and Verdant Bloom Ltd., the parent company of Urchinomics Group, signed a share purchase agreement for NYK to invest in Urchinomics. The collaboration aims to combat global warming by restoring kelp forests to sequester CO2.
Kelp forests, which inhabit seabeds, support marine biodiversity by providing habitats for small fish and other aquatic life. These underwater forests, known as “blue carbon,” absorb and store CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. However, the overabundance of sea urchins, which consume kelp forests, has become a serious global issue. Without a food source, these sea urchins starve and become unsuitable for consumption due to the lack of “uni,” the edible meat inside their spiny shells.
Urchinomics addresses this problem by collecting sea urchins from barren areas in Japan and overseas, feeding them naturally derived feed to transform them into a delicacy suitable for human consumption. The cultured sea urchins are then sold, and profits are reinvested into sea urchin removal and kelp-bed restoration projects. The group is one of only three commercial companies endorsed by the United Nations Ocean Decade for Sustainable Development.
As a comprehensive logistics company centered on marine transportation, the NYK Group has made marine environmental conservation a key theme. NYK aims to preserve marine biodiversity by regenerating seaweed beds and contributing to ocean decarbonisation. The company will gather knowledge to establish an evaluation method for blue carbon, aiding carbon removal efforts and potentially converting blue carbon into credits.
Giles Cadman, Verdant Bloom Chairman and CEO said, “As we have been scaling our efforts, we have placed significant importance on collaborating with partners with the aligned vision of fighting climate change with holistic nature-based solutions. NYK’s considered and forward-thinking approach to these issues is an excellent fit with our business.”
Shinichi Yanagisawa, NYK Executive Officer said, “Through this investment, NYK would like to vigorously pursue solutions to the social issue of rocky-shore denudation and the new challenge of creating blue-carbon credits.”