NYK Investment to Restore Kelp Forests, Earn Carbon Credits

Japanese shipping giant Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has discovered an innovative approach to earning carbon credits while also providing a popular delicacy to locals.

NYK is investing in Verdant Bloom, an Irish company that owns the Urchinomics Group, which is dedicated to restoring kelp forests as a means of sequestering CO2.

These underwater forests are gaining attention as a form of blue carbon, as they absorb and store CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis much faster than tropical rainforests. However, an overpopulation of sea urchins has been destroying these kelp forests globally. These urchins, often called the porcupines of the sea, consume the kelp and then starve, making them unsuitable for food due to the lack of uni, the prized meat inside their spiny shells.

Urchinomics addresses this issue by harvesting sea urchins from these overgrazed areas in Japan and feeding them a natural diet, transforming them into a delicacy fit for human consumption. The harvested urchins are sold, and profits are reinvested into removing sea urchins and restoring kelp beds.

Sea urchin sushi, or uni sushi, is a cherished delicacy in Japanese cuisine, known for being low in calories and rich in vitamins and minerals.

Similar to traditional carbon offsetting, companies can invest in blue carbon ecosystems in exchange for credits. NYK is exploring this opportunity as part of its commitment to giving back to the oceans.