San Diego City Wire

The Port of San Diego released its Blue Economy Incubator Highlights Report that calls attention to the environmental, social and financial perks delivered by portfolio companies ranging from pilot projects to commercial success.

Port officials created the Blue Economy Incubator in 2016 with sustainable aquaculture and Port-related blue technology ventures in mind to recognize environmental challenges and seek opportunities in the future for the blue economy.

"It's remarkable to see how much has been achieved since starting this program," San Diego Board of Port Commissioner Rafael Castellanos said in a release. "We have proven that businesses can sustainably use ocean resources to grow our economy, to create jobs, and improve livelihoods, while also protecting and improving the health of our ocean and its ecosystems."

The Board of Port Commissioners has OK'd nine agreements to date of companies to launch innovation-heavy projects.

"With the work we have seen during these pilot projects and the potential for future endeavors, I know the San Diego Bay can lead the way and one day be known as the 'Blue Technology Bay,'” Castellanos said.

The projects include San Diego Bay Aquaculture, Rentunder, Swell Advantage, Red Lion Chem Tech, Zephyr, Sunken Seaweed, ecoSPEARS, ECOncrete and FREDsense.

The Sunken Seaweed is an underwater seaweed aquaculture company.

“Since the start of the pilot, Sunken Seaweed has been cultivating, outplanting, growing, monitoring, and harvesting several species of seaweed native to Southern California,” the release said. “[It] has also leveraged the assets and results of its pilot to obtain additional grant funding and permits to continue operations, to measure the ecosystem benefits and services that both seaweed and shellfish provide …”

The Port of San Diego stretches 34 miles of the San Diego Bay and spreads across five cities. The port does not use tax dollars.