Manufacturing an innovative seaweed-based bioplastic to replace petroleum-based plastic used in fishing and aquaculture gear.

Viable Gear, LLC’s (VG) Phase I delivered proof-of-concept prototype twine with innovative seaweed based bioplastic material technology. The Viable Gear team will further develop its prototype in Phase II, preparing to bring its first product to market: a marine degradable biotwine used for seed string in seaweed nurseries. This biotwine is intended to replace the petroleum-based nylon string that most seaweed nurseries use today, and to replace nylon tubular mesh used in fishing gear like lobster and crab bait bags. When plastic fishing and aquaculture gear is lost or discarded at sea, it persists for indefinite periods of time, slowly breaking down into smaller pieces, and continuing to catch and kill marine life longer after its intended use by ocean harvesters, a phenomenon otherwise known as ghost fishing. In fact, this ghost gear from the fishing and aquaculture industries constitutes the majority of the macroplastics floating in the ocean (Lebreton et al., 2022). These macroplastics contribute to injury and death of marine species via entanglement and ingestion as they break down further into smaller fragments – micro- and nanoplastics - and can also render toxic health effects for humans through the consumption of seafood. The proposed project addresses NOAA-SBIR research topic area 9.3 The Changing Oceans; particularly to, “Support increased protection and restoration of marine and coastal habitats to enhance vital ecosystems” and “Facilitate sustainable and productive aquaculture practices and facilities” (NOAA, 2023). In Phase II, Viable Gear will continue the development of its material technology to refine its prototype biotwine, including mechanical, thermal, and ocean testing for future use cases. It will also identify the appropriate equipment, manufacturing machinery, and partners needed to commercialize and scale this material technology. Phase II will deliver a minimum viable product (MVP) from Viable Gear’s seaweed-based bioplastic material technology for a seeding biotwine for use in seaweed nurseries. Seeding twines – “seed string” - are commonly used as substrata for seeding, allowing growers to seed in high densities and then efficiently transplant the growing juvenile seaweed to sea farms. Once successfully commercialized, adoption of VG’s biotwine by seaweed nurseries and farmers will eliminate the possibility of lost or discarded seed string resulting in marine mammal entanglement or plastic pollution as it is designed to be marine degradable. Furthermore, the circularity of using seaweed to create a product used to grow more seaweed reduces the environmental footprint of the seaweed industry while amplifying the ecosystem and social benefits of the practice.