Purpose Statement

August 2024

Vision

At Go Ocean, we believe in the power of restoring marine ecosystems to make the blue part of our planet healthier and more resilient. Our goal is to have a positive and sustainable impact on marine habitats both locally and globally through targeted actions and innovative thinking.

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Objectives for 2024

Focus on the ecosystems on which we as humans have a negative impact.

  1. Restoring Seagrass Meadows in Loch Craignish, Scotland:
    • Quantitative: Planting 1,000 square meters of seagrass, equivalent to 5,000 seagrass bundles at an average of 5 seagrass bundles per square meter.
    • Qualitative: Improving biodiversity and water quality in Loch Craignish by planting seagrass bundles and identifying the appropriate restoration techniques through monitoring and evaluation of the restored areas.
  2. Planting Mangroves in Madagascar:
    • Quantitative: Planting 25,000 mangrove trees in the coastal areas of Madagascar, covering an area of 4.16 hectares at an average of 6,000 trees per hectare.
    • Qualitative: Restoring a highly productive mangrove forest, enhancing coastal protection, and improving the livelihoods of local communities by increasing food sources such as shellfish.
  3. Restoring Coral Reefs in Nusa Penida, Indonesia:
    • Quantitative: Restoring 70 square meters of coral reef by placing 200 coral spiders with a total of 3,200 coral fragments.
    • Qualitative: Increasing coral diversity and habitat structure, improving fish populations, and fostering greater engagement with the local community through training and school events (e.g., Umicore case), job creation, and ensuring ongoing financial support for maintenance workers.

Long-term objectives (2025-2027)

Global Portfolio

  1. Expansion of Seagrass Restoration:
    • Expand the restoration area in Loch Craignish to one hectare.
    • Train and involve local communities and volunteers in restoration projects.
  2. Large-Scale Mangrove Planting:
    • Plant a total of 100,000 mangrove trees in Madagascar, covering an area of 16.64 hectares, with further acceleration through the generation of carbon credits.
  3. Coral Reef Restoration:
    • Increase the restored coral reef area to 1 hectare in Nusa Penida.
    • Develop a coral reef project in Madagascar.
    • Implement technological innovations and partnerships for long-term coral protection.
  4. Endangered, Crucial Species:
    • Support projects that monitor and aid marine species. For example, sharks in South Africa.
    • Communicate issues and potential solutions to the public (awareness).

Local Portfolio

  1. Pilot Testing of Nature-Inclusive Infrastructure in the North Sea:
    • Installation of Nature-Inclusive Infrastructure: 
      Install 50 eco-blocks on the breakwater to facilitate increased biodiversity and 10 droppable oyster structures to initiate a sustainable and self-sufficient oyster population.
    • Technique Validation:
      Validate these techniques through monitoring and evaluation of biodiversity on and around the project for 5 to 8 years.
  2. Start an independent project focused solely on nature restoration in the North Sea, supported by external consultants and subsidies.

Awareness

  1. Introduce marine ecosystem restoration projects to businesses and individuals in an accessible, transparent, and tangible way, so a broader audience becomes more aware of what is happening in the ocean.
  2. Launch a campaign to raise awareness of the ecological value of nature-inclusive infrastructure in the North Sea (such as with Wim Willaert).
  3. Organize workshops (Blue Awareness Sessions), beach cleanups, documentary evenings, and educational programs to engage and inform companies and their employees/customers about marine conservation worldwide.

At Go Ocean, we strive to make a lasting impact on marine ecosystems through collaboration (SDG17), innovation (Technology), and education.

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