SAN DIEGO — The Port of San Diego is working with companies around the world to test blue technology around San Diego Bay, as part of the Blue Economy Incubator program.

The port established its Blue Economy Incubator in 2016 as a launching pad for sustainable aquaculture and port-related blue technology ventures. 

Paula Sylvia, program director for Aquaculture and Blue Technology at the Port of San Diego, says blue technology is anything to do with water, and it's their goal to make San Diego Bay into "Blue Tech Bay," a catalyst for the region’s Blue Economy.

“We have a hugely diverse Blue Economy ecosystem in San Diego but also along the West Coast," Sylvia said. "Our core value proposition through our incubator is facilitating pilot projects. So putting the product in the water where a company can test their technology.”

In exchange for funding or in-kind support provided to launch the nine pilot projects, the port receives a royalty from the businesses’ operations or technology. To date, the Board of Port Commissioners has approved nine agreements with early-stage companies to launch innovative pilot projects.

One such project is ECOncrete's COASTALOCK interlocking tide pools. COASTALOCK is designed to protect the shore while creating a tide pool system, potentially replacing the traditional shore protection of human-placed giant rocks called riprap.

Timothy Barrett, program manager for Environmental Conservation at the Port of San Diego, says COASTALOCK also creates an ecosystem that mimics natural tide pools, as opposed to barren rock.

“Imbedded in the material is a bio-additive mixture, which regulates the pH level and prioritizes recruitment of native species on it," Barrett said. "So over time, these replicate a functioning tide pool.”

Just south of the COASTALOCK tide pools are oyster reef balls, which are also a part of the Blue Economy Incubator. They’re a living shoreline, relying on concrete mixed with oyster shells to stabilize shorelines in place of traditional rip rap or sea walls, while also provide habitat for marine life.  

“You can come down here on any day and see an octopus or a Great Blue Heron foraging or just crabs, versus the traditional just kind of sterile rock and it creates more of an engagement and interaction with San Diego Bay,” Barrett said.  

Barrett added that these nature-based projects are excellent solutions in the face of sea level rise because they naturally adapt and grow over time. He said they’re still gathering data, but so far they’re seeing a richer, more diverse ecosystem, along with a structure that’s standing up to the power of the sea.

“The general approach to it, it’s letting nature do what nature does,” he said. “That’s the simplicity of nature-based solutions.”

The port said they are also seeing a lower ratio of invasive to native species among the COASTALOCK units compared to traditional rip rap.