OCEAN, POLES & GLACIERS

Scientific research underpins progress and informs global action. Mercuria invests in a range of platforms that expand understanding of ocean and polar ecosystems, from Arctic fjords to Antarctic waters.

Through the Forel Research Platform, a coastal oceanographic vessel supported by the Forel Heritage Association, Mercuria helps scientists examine how glacial melt influences fjord ecosystems around Greenland while training the next generation of polar researchers.

We also sponsored the Ocean Science Expedition, a four‑month voyage through the Northwest Passage aboard the Abel Tasman, exploring six Arctic tipping points and gathering critical data on sea temperature, dissolved gases, microplastics, and environmental DNA.

Our partnership with the Baseline: Glacier Biodiversity Challenge extends this scientific effort to six continents, collecting eDNA samples across glacier systems to reveal previously unseen species diversity within Earth’s frozen landscapes.

By supporting these projects and collaboration between institutions such as the Swiss Polar Institute, EPFL, and NatureMetrics, Mercuria helps close essential data gaps and contribute to the science needed to understand and preserve the stability of ocean and polar ecosystems.

Innovation is central to Mercuria’s sustainability strategy. We partner with organisations developing technologies that bridge engineering and nature to regenerate ecosystems and modernise marine operations.

Our investment in ARC marine, a UK‑based eco‑engineering company, supports the creation of carbon‑neutral reef structures and nature‑inclusive coastal defences. Made from “Marine Crete” using recycled materials, Arc Marine’s reef cubes® and marine matts transform traditional marine infrastructure into living habitats that increase biodiversity while reducing emissions.

Digital partnership is equally important. With HUB Ocean, Mercuria championed the development of the Citizen Sea mobile application, enabling seafarers and coastal communities to upload sightings of marine wildlife and pollution directly from their phones. These crowd‑sourced observations feed into HUB Ocean’s open database, strengthening global ocean knowledge.

This spirit of transformation also extends to our support for Forel—a classic vessel re‑engineered as a modern polar research platform, illustrating how an existing craft can be repurposed with technology and design to serve science and education. A new concept in ocean research, Forel combines agility and capability, being small enough to reach close to glaciers and icebergs while housing onboard laboratories that allow scientists to conduct sampling and analysis in situ rather than waiting to return to shore.

By supporting both eco‑engineering and data technology, Mercuria demonstrates how innovation drives practical progress toward a lower‑carbon, nature‑positive future.

Reliable data are critical to protecting the ocean and poles at scale. Mercuria collaborates with partners who make scientific and industrial information open and actionable.

Through HUB Ocean, we contribute to the world’s largest open‑source ocean data platform. It aggregates scientific, commercial, and policy information that helps users—from researchers to shipping operators—plan and manage ocean resources more sustainably.

The Citizen Sea app amplifies these efforts by turning observation into participation. Developed with HUB Ocean and supported by Minerva Bunkering, it empowers anyone spending time at sea to document marine life and pollution. By incorporating geotagged photos and metadata into research workflows, the app closes critical knowledge gaps and connects communities to global science.

The eDNA data collected during the Ocean Science Expedition and the Baseline Glacier Biodiversity Challenge are also shared with NatureMetrics and other research organisations, ensuring transparency and collaboration across disciplines.

Through these partnerships, Mercuria helps build a foundation of accessible, reliable data that strengthens marine management and decision‑making worldwide.

Nature‑based engineering and digital monitoring are transforming how industry interacts with the marine environment. Mercuria invests in projects that create measurable ecological improvement alongside operational benefits.

Eco‑engineering developed by Arc Marine turns legacy infrastructure—such as subsea cable protection and port seawalls—into thriving marine habitats. Using its proprietary Marine Crete material, Arc Marine builds reef cubes® that provide shelter for fish and crustaceans while stabilising coastal structures.

Data and technology also play a role in restoration. Through collaboration with organisations like the Reef Alert Network, we support research on digital debris collection and reef‑monitoring systems that help maintain healthy habitats. Information gathered via the Citizen Sea app contributes to these restoration goals by revealing pollution sources and biodiversity patterns.

By integrating restoration science into our partnerships, Mercuria helps pioneer nature‑positive solutions for coastal resilience and habitat recovery.

Awareness transforms knowledge into action. Mercuria promotes education and storytelling that connect people, policy, and science in support of ocean and polar stewardship.

At the Villars Institute, we co‑hosted the Ocean & Poles Roundtable, bringing together experts including Professor Johan Rockström and Sylvia Earle to discuss tipping‑point science and collaborative solutions. The event highlighted that six planetary boundaries have already been crossed and stressed the need for unified action.

During the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, we sponsored Ocean House, creating a dynamic space for dialogue with global leaders. Events such as Leading the Charge, Turning the Tide: The Ocean through Data, Design and Discovery, and From Emissions to Ambition convened scientists, investors, and industry to scale innovation and investment in ocean sustainability.

Our short film Turning the Tide, premiered at Ocean House, weaves together many of these programmes—showcasing partnerships with ARC marine, HUB Ocean, and Forel—and illustrating how storytelling can inspire measurable change.

Mercuria also supports global policy initiatives like the 30×30 Ocean Action Plan and the Business Call to Action, reinforcing our commitment to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 and promote science‑based corporate responsibility.

Through these collaborations and communications, we help ensure that the science of ocean and polar protection reaches the audiences who can act on it.

Mercuria will continue expanding its network of projects and partnerships, supporting scientific discovery, technology, and restoration across the ocean, polar, and glacial realms.

To explore our most recent collaborations and achievements, visit the Planet in 2025 page in the Progress in 2025 section.