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Ocean Solution: Sea Urchin Shells Now Grow Kelp Forests
21 Sep
Summary
- Discarded sea urchin shells are being repurposed to help kelp forests regrow.
- Design students developed biodegradable 3D-printed structures and bioconcrete frames.
- These innovative projects have won international design and innovation awards.
Design students at the University of Tasmania are pioneering a unique method to restore declining kelp forests by repurposing waste sea urchin shells. These shells are being transformed into structures designed to support the early growth of kelp, a vital component of coastal ecosystems. The initiative addresses the significant loss of kelp beds along Tasmania's coast, exacerbated by warming oceans and expanding sea urchin populations that create 'urchin barrens'.
Two distinct projects have emerged from this concept. ReURCHIN utilizes 3D-printed, biodegradable structures made from sea urchin shells to anchor young kelp plants. Once the kelp matures, the structure is designed to decompose naturally. The Upsurge project employs 'UrchCrete' bioconcrete frames, also made from sea urchin shell waste, to seed kelp spores, aiming to improve the survival rate of kelp during its most vulnerable stage.
These innovative student designs have achieved international recognition. ReURCHIN earned the Outstanding Science Prize at the 2025 Biodesign Sprint, while Upsurge received the Outstanding Digital Submission prize at the 2026 Biodesign Challenge Summit. While these concepts are still in development, with ReURCHIN progressing towards trials and Upsurge remaining at the conceptual stage, they highlight a promising approach to marine restoration by turning a material linked to ecological decline into a tool for recovery.
