10 Startups Conserving Marine Life in 2023

The following entrepreneurs are innovating in incredible ways to conserve marine wildlife. Learn more about them below.

Disclaimer: With so many exciting startups launching and growing worldwide, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups that are listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.

• Location: London, United Kingdom
• Funding: £180,000

The ultimate goal at Pesky Fish is to bring a transparent supply chain to consumers without disrupting wildlife habitats. Their daily fresh catches are sustainably delivered to individual and commercial consumers, and certain fish species are only provided if their numbers are where they should be so as not to disturb populations.

• Location: New York, New York
• Funding: N/A

Sustainable suncare is all the rage these days, and the founders at Bask have created their own award-winning formula that won’t harm the environment or your skin. Their products ensure the absence of both oxybenzone and octinoxate, as well as benzene. These harmful chemicals are found in other sunscreens, and while they give our skin an added layer of protection, they’re not necessary and harm our coral reefs and oceans.

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• Location: Amsterdam
• Funding: N/A

Much of the pollution that ends up in our oceans comes from our rivers, but The Great Bubble Barrier startup is here to change that. Their bubble barrier catches plastic over the full width and depth of any river, preventing harmful plastics from ending up in the sea. The best part? The barriers don’t impede regular river activity and are always fully functional.

• Location: Queensland, Australia
• Funding: Unavailable

The Australian Seaweed Institute (ASI) exists to tackle climate change and create a thriving seaweed habitat in the ocean. Their seaweed biofilters protect the Great Barrier Reef from pollution while also enhancing its strength against the effects of climate change. You can learn more about how their revolutionary seaweed biofilter process works at their website.

• Location: Kelowna, Canada
• Funding: $5 Million

Pela boasts the first biodegradable phone case. The startup began after a family trip to Hawaii, where founder Jeremy Lang discovered just how much plastic ends up in our oceans, especially from our technology. In addition to phone cases, Pela also makes recyclable headphone cases, smartwatch straps, and sunglasses.

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• Location: Nyack, New York
• Funding: $20.3 Million

New Wave Foods is combatting the seafood scarcity problem in a unique way: by completely cutting out seafood altogether. Their plant-based shrimp tastes just like the real thing without the carbon footprint. Their motto is that when you choose New Wave, you’re choosing to protect our oceans for future generations.

• Location: London, United Kingdom
• Funding: $1.5 Million

Fishing is a vital agriculture practice in seaside towns, but many current practices aren’t sustainable and are actively harming our planet. SafetyNet Technologies uses proprietary technology to ensure sustainability and less pollution for those who make their livelihoods on the seas.

• Location: Victoria, Canada 
• Funding: $3.6 Million

Understanding ocean wildlife means we need boats out on the water. However, gas engines are also one of the main culprits in ocean pollution. Open Ocean Robotics is deploying a solar-powered boat to cut down on carbon footprints and to keep our waters clear.

• Location: India
• Funding: N/A

It’s an unfortunate reality that many hygiene products contain harmful plastic components, and a majority of them end up in the ocean or landfill. Woman-owned startup Saathi has created a completely biodegradable hygiene product out of banana fibers.

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• Location: Oslo, Norway
• Funding: Undisclosed

Brim Explorer is another startup looking to cut down on water pollution caused by boats and other water transportation vehicles. Their hybrid-electric engine allows for a quieter ride, which allows for less disruption to the wildlife below the waves, as well as less oil and gas pollution entering the water. 

Recommended: Check out our full list of the top startups to watch!