A New Wave of Innovation

The Sea-Changers Innovation Fund has been an amazing success in 2025. From detection dogs being trained to sniff out invasive species; to the use of AI and drone technology for conservation purposes, and vital pioneering research into threatened populations, this has been our biggest round of Innovation projects to date.

Launched at the start of the year with around £30,000 in initial funding, the scheme inspired an overwhelming response: 50 applications, far exceeding our available funds.

Inspired by the quality and ambition of proposals we had received, we went back both to our original funders, including The William Grant Foundation and ARC Marine and we also approached a new Funder - The Flotilla Foundation, sharing some of the outstanding ideas submitted. The result? Over the course of the year, a total of 15 ambitious projects have been supported, with grants paid reaching in excess of £83,000—nearly tripling the original fund value.​

The Sea-Changers Innovation Fund backs bold, novel approaches to marine conservation and is proud to champion projects with game-changing potential. This year’s portfolio features breakthroughs in conservation technology, species monitoring, habitat restoration, and circular economy models. In addition to the first tranche of projects announced previously, here are the other projects we have now been able to support:

• The Go Fish Zones project, led by The Open Seas Trust, aims to improve fisheries management in Scotland by identifying areas where scallop dredging can occur with minimal environmental impact. Using resilience modeling, ecological and fisheries data, and Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) surveys, the project will create a science-based framework to balance sustainable fishing with habitat protection. It will produce reports and policy recommendations to support evidence-based marine management.

•  SeaSound Shetland, led by UHI Shetland, is developing and trialing a modular, low-cost, low-impact platform for marine data collection in remote regions. Using mostly off-the-shelf components, the project will test different equipment configurations to support local marine projects, such as harbour porpoise behaviour studies and seagrass mapping. The platform is designed to be accessible, user-friendly, and scalable, with the resulting blueprint shared for use in other regions seeking similar marine conservation solutions.

• The University of Essex plan to validate and expand the use of passive acoustic monitoring and AI to detect UK seahorse species by their sound signatures. Acoustic devices will be deployed at three UK sites to record seahorse feeding clicks, with data analysed using a convolutional neural network. The project addresses knowledge gaps in seahorse monitoring, enhances conservation efforts, and pioneers non-invasive detection methods for a cryptic, protected species.

• Waterhaul will be using their grant to develop a scalable, UK-based recycling scheme for end-of-life nylon gill nets. By partnering with a UK textile recycling facility, the project will pilot large-scale recycling, create protocols for net collection and processing, and trial manufacturing applications. The goal is to reduce marine pollution, conserve biodiversity, and create new economic opportunities by establishing a sustainable, nationwide system for recycling fishing nets.

• The REACH project (Realignment for Enhanced Aquatic Connectivity and Hydrology), led by the University of St Andrews, intends to improve the success of saltmarsh realignment projects in Scotland. Using innovative Radon isotope techniques, it will study hydrological connectivity in realigned and natural saltmarshes to inform restoration, enhance ecosystem resilience, and support climate and biodiversity goals.

• The University of Plymouth will assess whether seagrass restoration recovers fish nursery function by deploying innovative smart-camera technology in subtidal seagrass beds. The project will compare juvenile fish abundance and diversity between restored and natural seagrass habitats, inform conservation efforts, develop new monitoring tools, and enhance public engagement in marine research.

• Organisation Cetacea (ORCA) are running the Close Encounters – whales, dolphins & vessels project, which aims to understand whether large ships can slow in time to avoid collisions with marine mammals. The project will record “near miss” events from the bridge of a commercial ferry using newly installed external cameras and internal recording equipment. By analysing how whales and dolphins react when vessels approach, the project will provide evidence-based guidance to bridge crews, improve collision avoidance, and identify high-risk areas. This cost-effective, citizen science approach could be scaled to other vessels, helping reduce ship strikes and protect marine mammals globally.

• Nature’s SAFE is launching the UK’s first Coral Cryo-Hub, a dedicated facility for the cryopreservation of coral reproductive material. They’ll store coral sperm and develop protocols to freeze eggs and micro-fragments, supporting conservation. The project aims to safeguard genetic diversity, advance coral breeding for climate resilience, and provide training and collaboration opportunities for scientists and reef restoration practitioners, supporting endangered coral species worldwide.

Join Us for 2026: Funding Partners Needed

After the resounding success of the 2025 Innovation Fund, Sea-Changers is now seeking visionary partners to run a similar—and even bigger—programme in 2026. New funders will help shape the next wave of ocean solutions and demonstrate a deep commitment to sustainability. As a partner, you’ll receive exclusive insight into the projects you back, regular updates, compelling stories and you will be backing vital work to protect and conserve the UK's marine habitats and species.​

The 2026 Innovation Fund aims to unlock the talent, ideas, and passion of the UK’s marine conservation sector—testing creative solutions in the real world and supporting scalable, replicable projects. By working together, we can deliver healthy, protected oceans for generations to come. If you are interested in helping to fund similar projects, please get in touch.