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Bioremediation &
Bioproduct Innovation
Harnessing the ocean’s own helpers - seaweed and mussels - we naturally clean waters, support coastal livelihoods, and pioneer eco-friendly materials.
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Open-sea aquaculture
Fish farms release uneaten feed and waste, adding excess nutrients and organic matter to surrounding waters
The Problem
Nutrient runoff
Nitrogen and Phosphorus from fertilizers and other organic matter wash into the sea during rain and irrigation
Excess nutrients trigger rapid growth of algae which depletes oxygen, reduce water quality and may release toxins
Harmful algae blooms
Lower oxygen levels, toxic algae and a degraded habitat harms both farmed fish and marine wildlife
Threat to marine life
Maritime activities
Shipping and port activities can be potential pathways for pollutants, including chemicals, heavy metals and sewage, to enter coastal waters.
124 thousand tonnes of imported seafood to singapore in 2021
seafood ranked second in terms of meat type consumed per capita in singapore
84% of domestic seafood comes from traditional fish farms
From 4% domestic seafood production (2021) to 30%
in 6 years time
How does this impact FIsh Farms?
Open-sea fish farms in Singapore depend on healthy seawater to support fish health, growth and survival. Poor marine water quality, excess nutrients and harmful algal blooms can deplete oxygen, trigger mass fish deaths and cause significant financial losses for fish farmers.
In 2015, a major algal bloom in the East Johor Strait killed up to 600 tonnes of fish across 55 fish farms, costing local farmers millions of dollars.
As Singapore imports more than 90% of its seafood, and open-sea fish farms make up 84% of our seafood, sustainable aquaculture and marine ecosystem health are essential to long-term seafood security. But increasing seafood production also means addressing ocean pollution and protecting the waters that fish farms depend on.
Rather than relying on costly measures such as filtering the entire Johor Strait, which would cost 1 billion Singapore dollars, long-term solutions must focus on improving marine water quality, reducing pollution and building more resilient aquaculture systems.
The Solution: Bioremediation
Bioremediation is an environmental management approach that uses living organisms to degrade, neutralise, or transform hazardous pollutants into non-toxic or less toxic substances in an ecosystem.
At Ocean Purpose Project, we use seaweed and mussels as living components of a coastal bioremediation system. We have deployed over 420 Seaweed and mussel lines around the kelong (offshore fish farm), creating underwater living curtains.
Instead of relying entirely on mechanical infrastructure, the system uses the natural biological functions of native species.
mussels:
living biofilters
Mussels are filter feeders.
As mussels feed, they draw surrounding seawater through their bodies and capture suspended particles, including phytoplankton and organic particles, and pump out cleaner water. In doing so, mussel populations can influence the movement of nutrients and organic matter through coastal ecosystems.
We use the Asian green mussel (Perna viridis), commonly known as the green-lipped mussel, which is native to the Johor Straits.
Seaweed:
nutrient absorbers
Seaweed are primary producers.
They take up dissolved nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the surrounding water and for growth, cellular repair and reproduction. Through this, seaweed lines directly remove excess nutrients from the water column.
There are at least 20 different species of seaweed in Pasir Ris,
here are a few:
Dictyota spp. Ulva Lactuca Caulerpa spp.
Gracilaria edulis Gracilaria Saicornia Gracilaria Cearensis
Soleria robusta. Chaetomorpha spp. Acanrhophora spp.
together, they become underwater curtains that cleans the waters, protects fish stock and supports a thriving community of marine life.
Ocean health
soil health
human health
More than bioremediation
Project tanah air
Led by Ocean Purpose Project in Singapore, it is a United Nations-listed initiative (#OceanAction57304), connecting ocean conservation and sustainable agriculture.
Polluted waters
Cleaned by mussels and seaweed
THE OPP WAY: CREATING A CIRCULAR ECONOMY
THE NEGATIVE ALTERNATIVE
If not harvested, biomass dies and decomposes
Captured nutrients returned to the water and fuels algal growth
Harvesting removes captured nutrients from the water
Biomass is used as compost and biostimulant to fuel and improve plant growth. This reduces reliance of chemical fertilisers
Less nutrient runoff, cleaner waters
Instead of treating harvested seaweed as waste, OPP explores ways to return this biomass to the land.
The same biological material that helped capture nutrients from the marine environment can become an input for our Eco-Garden.
Seaweed SOil Improvers
Biostimulators are biological materials containing microorganisms, organic matter or naturally derived nutrients that can support plant nutrient availability and soil health. Seaweed contains naturally occurring macro- and micronutrients and bioactive compounds. Research into seaweed-based agricultural products has also investigated their potential as biostimulants, which supports plant growth and resilience.
Biofefertilisers are microorganisms and biological materials that increase the amount of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil that is necessary for plant growth.
Not all harvested biomass needs to become a liquid input. They can also become part of a composting and soil-building process.
We combine broken-down seaweed and mussels with soil and other organic materials, such as fallen leaves, garden offcuts, soya bean meal and coffee grounds, before incorporating the it into our gardening system.
Rather than viewing organic material as something to discard, we return it to the growing system. What was once biomass in the sea becomes organic matter in the soil.
These inputs are used in our Eco-Garden where we grow medicinal herbs.
Conventional fertilisers can provide plants with concentrated nutrients, but their production and use is associated with energy use, resource consumption and nutrient losses to the environment when inefficiently applied.
Through various trials and research, Ocean Purpose Project has developed a nature-based solution: a liquid soil improver that captures the benefits of seaweed in enhancing plant growth and medicinal properties.
awards and recognition
Prince Albert of Monaco Foundation 2025
2025 - 1 of 100 Seaweed Projects on showcase at Blue Economy Finance Forum
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The Earthshot Prize 2024
ASEAN & Singapore Nominee Plastic to Hydrogen & Seaweed Bioremediation
Women eco game changer awards 2022
Food & Clean Tech Water Gamechanger
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Crowdera foundation
giving economy 2023 awards
Exemplary Contributions to Oceans- United Nations SDG 14, "life under water"
Euroquity
Ocean Purpose Project (Singapore) and Microbia Environnement (France) - Bioremediation for Biarritz Euroquity Tideline Challenge 2023
circular economy
Turns recovered seaweed biomass into useful agricultural inputs.
marine-to-land
Connects coastal ecosystem restoration with sustainable food and gardening systems.
locally produced
Creates gardening inputs from biomass generated within the local environmental system.
nature-based
Uses biological processes rather than relying solely on manufactured chemical inputs.
Bioproducts from Blue Solutions
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Privacy Policy
Reach us at
hello@oceanpurposeproject.com or
DM us on instagram @oceanpurposeproject
Singapore's exemplary homegrown social enterprise working on the North Eastern shores!
Ocean Purpose Project has been bestowed the raiSE Emerging Social Enterprise Award in 2025 for our exemplary work in
providing inclusive employment opportunities to persons managing mental health conditions, caregivers, people with debilitating health conditions through its business model.An Emerging Social Enterprise is a business that has demonstrated and tracked at least 3 months of social impact creation and generated market revenue. It demonstrates additionality by redesigning business processes or policies to go beyond conventional practices, deliberately addressing unmet social needs and contributing to a more inclusive society in Singapore.
Ocean Purpose Project is proudly a Singaporean Social Enterprise leading community beach cleanups, viral sustainability & blue carbon marketing, plastic to hydrogen and seaweed bioremediation from our two time SG ECO Fund award winning OPP Beach Hub office on the shores of Pasir Ris, North East Singapore.
We are Singapore's 1st Blue Economy advocates and proud champions of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Our award winning work makes us Asia's top choice for teambuilding, workshops, ocean CSR and beach clean ups with a difference! Every corporate or school event and teambuilding activity in Pasir Ris combines sustainability games, problem solving, hackathons, leadership development that build communication skills and ocean conservation knowledge linked to our Plastic to Hydrogen, Seaweed Bioremediation and seawater quality and eco-gardening projects.
Beyond a team building , it's a unique outdoor experience for small groups and large groups at each event. From our beach offices constructed entirely of recycled and repurposed materials and powered by 23kW solar, even the building and furniture we work with is sustainable! OPP speaks at global sustainability events from COP to United Nations Ocean Conference to GITEX to ASEAN to G20 to Climate Week New York cementing our reputation as the top Blue Economy Association in Singapore. Come and experience Singapore's 1st seaweed carbon sequestration project at our OPP Herb Garden 24/7, 365 days a year!
Is your company listed on 1% for The Planet? You can now support our work!
As of September 2026, Ocean Purpose Project officially joins forces with 1% for the Planet and thousands of businesses and environmental organizations worldwide taking collective action so our planet and future generations can thrive. Singapore can be a powerful gateway for international companies wanting to create credible, visible environmental impact in Asia.
If your company has employees, operations, customers, suppliers or sustainability ambitions in Singapore or Southeast Asia, come and build something with us. Having met 1% for the Planet’s high vetting standard, we are now eligible to receive contributions from 1% for the Planet certified businesses - companies that are held accountable for directing at least 1% of annual revenue to vetted and approved environmental organizations. To ensure that every dollar funds verifiable impact and aligns with evolving global compliance frameworks, all impact partners must clear 1% for the Planet's rigorous Certification & Vetting Standard. This unified, three-pillar vetting process evaluates partners across Legal Accountability, Organizational Credibility and Solutions Alignment.
Click on Ocean Purpose Project in the 1% For the Planet portal and browse our many game changing ocean conservation projects tackling all forms of ocean pollution from ocean plastics, oil spills, microplastics, sewage, chemical spills, algae blooms, bacteria blooms and coral bleaching and select which programme you prefer! For OPP, becoming part of the 1% for the Planet network is about creating a bridge between global corporate environmental commitments and measurable action on the shores of Singapore and Southeast Asia.
We started grassroots. We still work grassroots.
But the problems facing our oceans are global — and solving them will require companies, communities, scientists and changemakers working together across borders.
We thank all our corporate clients for this milestone! 1% For the Planet enables you to fund us, to continue our ocean conservation work.
Proud to be members of:
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