Our Pilot Site

In January 2020, Ocean Rainforest, Inc. (ORI) opened its doors in Santa Barbara, California. A subsidiary of Ocean Rainforest, Sp/F, ORI has become the prime contractor with the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) Department for the MacroSystems initiative.

For the government contract, ORI has played a key role in establishing a local hatchery, deploying the cultivation structure tested in Phase I of the contract, developing highly-efficient and state of the art harvesting technologies, and collecting data on the environmental conditions and ecological benefits of offshore Macrocystis cultivation. This pilot site plays a critical role in demonstrating the viability of offshore kelp cultivation in a way that is sustainable, survivable, and scalable.

ORI has actively engaged stakeholders and potential partners in the local community to help launch the initial phase of our pilot offshore farm. With their support, ORI will continue to shape this pioneering industry in such a way that does not threaten existing industries or stakeholders that rely on the marine environment for their livelihood.

Commercial-Scale Application

Building off of the work done on the pilot site, ORI has submitted an application for 2,000 acres of ocean space in federal waters in the Santa Barbara Channel to conduct commercial scale cultivation of Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), a species native to California, using a series of innovative structures designed to withstand offshore conditions.

The objectives of the proposed project are:

1. To increase the supply of safe, sustainably produced and locally grown seaweed while minimizing potential negative environmental impacts

2. To enhance and diversify Ventura Harbor as a major west coast resilient and sustainable fishing port and support the local economy through the addition of sustainable aquaculture

3. To promote diversification of aquaculture practices and leverage the US seafood deficit by creating a new industry.

4. To enhance public knowledge and understanding of sustainable seaweed farming practices

5. To advance scientific knowledge and state of the art aquaculture practices through research and innovation

Stay up to date with Ocean Rainforest's California operations and sign up to be the first to know about local upcoming events, like seminars and tours, and learn about emerging research on seaweed aquaculture.

Sign up for our California newsletter below