Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, are microscopic organisms naturally found in water bodies around the world. The nutrient-rich waters of the Baltic Sea create favourable conditions for blue-green algae blooms, especially during the summer months.
Wide-spread blue-green algae blooms disrupt the delicate ecosystem of the Baltic Sea, leading to water quality deterioration and economic harm.
Excessive blue-green algae growth smothers other aquatic plants and reduces oxygen levels in the water, leading to ecological changes and decreased biodiversity. Many blue-green algae produce toxic cyanotoxins, which can cause skin irritation, digestive issues, liver damage, and neurological symptoms in both humans and animals.
Additionally, algae blooms cause odor problems along the coast, which affects the local communities' economy by hindering fishing, tourism, and other recreational activities. Removing nutrients and excessive algae blooms is crucial to maintaining the appeal of the Baltic Sea region.
By removing blue-green algae, the balance of the Baltic Sea ecosystem can be restored, and raw oil-based ingredients in the chemical industry can be replaced with algae-based alternatives.
Blue-green algae removal can achieve significant environmental and health benefits. Improved ecosystems and water quality, as well as reduced health risks, make algae management a key part of water body care and protection. Algae collection also creates new business opportunities that support sustainable development.
Using Origin by Ocean's patented bioprocess, valuable raw materials for the chemical industry and cosmetics can be refined from blue-green algae. Blue-green algae contain higher concentrations of AZULO™ ( a registered product by Origin by Ocean) than brown algae. AZULO™ is purified Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) extracted from brown or blue-green algae that protects skin against photoaging and boosts the UV protection factor of suncare products.
The Goal: A Network of Algae Collectors and Business Scaling
Origin by Ocean utilizes all brown algae worldwide, particularly focusing on sargassum, which plagues the Caribbean Sea and its ecosystem. The collection of blue-green algae from the Baltic Sea is now being piloted for the first time in the Turku archipelago in collaboration with the Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association.
“We are testing a new method of collecting blue-green algae, for which the solar-powered vessel provided by Keep the Archipelago Tidy Association, is an excellent tool. We want to be involved in developing the collection of harmful blue-green algae, to ensure we can continue to do so with the smallest carbon footprint possible. This is an important first step for us towards large-scale production, and we hope this collection will become a broader business for various operators, allowing us to purchase collected blue-green algae from various partners,” says Chief Operating Officer of Origin by Ocean Heikki Heiskanen.
The “Roska-Roope” vessel, designed for collecting surface debris, has been modified slightly to collect blue-green algae from both the water surface and just below it. Roska-Roope collects blue-green algae in the Turku archipelago during the algae bloom season, thus contributing to the well-being of the Baltic Sea and a sustainable future.