About This Project

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

For the last 18 months we have traveled to the Dominican Republic to research locations that meet specific socioeconomic and environmental criteria to serve as sites for our seaweed farming pilot program.

Our team agreed that we wanted to develop a project that was low tech and had low start-up cost. Which would allow us to train local fishing communities to engage in more sustainable fishing practices. The ideal project would have minimal environmental impact, and would give us an opportunity to relieve the environmental stress of exploitative overfishing .

We wanted a project that would help us discover and create a product that could add value to manufacturers of goods, while at the same time being something innovative and environmentally friendly. Lastly it was important for us that we continued to push further and disrupt marine research in the Dominican Republic.

Our technical director knew that research involving the extraction of biological compounds from the sea was a lengthy and costly ordeal, and we didn't really have a clue what we would find out there. So we consulted with Dr. Ruben Torres, national Director of Reef Check and co-administrator of "La Caleta" in the Dominican Republic. Our conversations with him along with our research led us to infer the following:

A) A pilot farming model would allow us gather chemical and biological data (such as nutritional composition and chemical make up) without having to extract too much from natural stocks. B). We can create a sustainable business process. That promotes healthy resource management, and reassures that socially responsible models work. While finally proving; C). That seaweed farming can indeed become a financially favorable social enterprise.

To put all this together we created a 48 page environmental impact assessment / business plan, that really got the Dominican government behind us. They gave us environmental permits to use the coastal waters adjacent to the national submarine park "La Caleta" in Santo Domingo; to conduct our research.

What is the significance of this project?

In a country that shares an island with the western hemisphere's poorest nation, the load placed on the exploitation of natural resources is negatively affecting the equilibrium of their ecosystems. Uncontrollable slash and burn techniques, illegal deforestation, human trafficking, uncontrolled and exploitative fishing practices, and many other political and social problems are too much to bear for such a small economy.

The Dominican Republic is the tenth most populous island in the world, and the most populous one in the Americas. It has a heavy responsibility to accommodate a population on the verge of 20 million people in a 76,000 square kilometer area. The recent influx of immigrants from Haiti has caused a political and social uproar that is now taking its toll on a marginalized group forced to live in impoverished makeshift communities. One such community is located in the vicinity of "La Caleta" National Submarine Park.

Years of uncontrolled fishing using poisons and net dragging have left the shallow coasts barren and lacking in marine life. We have developed a business model that is dynamic and can help cure some of the social ills of these localities. In exchange for a coveted raw material used in the development of organic bio-stimulants and biotechnological applications.

Our team has expertise in the areas of community economic development, manufacturing operations, and scientific research. Which gives us a trifecta with perfect balance to create a working environment full of synergy and altruism.

Our previous research has allowed us to identify a commercially viable species that shows the potential for many uses in local and foreign markets. For this project we are partnering up with the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) Center for Marine Bio research (CIBIMA), and Atlanta Metropolitan State College to help on the set up, training and data gathering activities.

As you can see this initiative has already brought together 5 international organizations, one national government, community leaders, community development specialists, environmentalist, PhD's, undergraduate researchers, University professors, business people and most importantly its brought them all together under the possibility of making an impact in the sustainability of communities, and in the sustenance of one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world.

What are the goals of the project?

Our goals are as follows:

1. To build the cultivation infrastructure in the ocean with the help of locals and student volunteers.
2. To train the first group of fishermen so that they can start seeding before the growing season.
3. To measure, and record data for the first 3 months of the growing cycle January though March.
4. To double the output capacity of the project by expanding growing area.
5. To record and analyze data on the economic development of the fishermen in the project.
6. To identify more species with commercial and cultivation potential
7. To export our first shipment within 6 months of operations.