1 500 hectares of habitat revival

Purina Europe is working with expert organisations to restore marine habitats the size of 3 700 football pitches by 2030. Marine habitats are home to many species, including fish. Fish is part of Purina’s supply chain as the company uses fish by-products, i.e. parts of fish that are not consumed by humans but are a valuable ingredient in pet food.

To achieve this, Purina is investing in its partners’ marine restoration solutions to make them effective and scalable. Each partner will focus on species that are critical to restoring local marine habitats but whose populations are depleted.

The first phase of the programme, which will run for three years, will focus on developing research, a measurement framework and the conditions needed to scale up restoration solutions efficiently and effectively. The second phase is scheduled to begin in 2026 and will focus on scaling up proven solutions.

Purina is supported by expert partners: Article 13 is an independent sustainability consultancy that provides strategic advice to private, public and non-profit orga­nisations. Article 13 believes in impact-orientated sustainability that uses science to live within the limits of the planet and socie­tal needs. The company is a strategic advisor to Purina’s marine ecosystem regeneration programme and has contributed to its develop­ment. The Bellona Foundation is an international, science-based non-profit organisation with a vision to create a carbon-negative society with restorative growth. Bright Tide is a sustainability consultancy that works with organisations to address urgent climate and biodiversity challenges around the world.

The Seagrass Consortium, represented by one of its founding partners, the Sea Ranger Service, develops solutions for planting seagrass meadows that contribute to biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

Oyster Heaven uses natural materials to regenerate degraded oyster reefs. Oysters contribute to biodiversity and provide a home for a variety of species. They are natural water filters that remove pollutants, including excess nitrogen, helping to improve water quality. Better water quality allows more sunlight to reach the seagrass meadows so that they can thrive.

Urchinomics removes excess sea urchins that have overgrazed the seagrass meadows (in this area kelp) after the decline of their natural predators. Their removal contributes to the regeneration of the kelp. Seagrass naturally purifies the water and provides habitat, food and energy for many marine organisms, while absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon.

SeaForester uses techniques such as mobile seaweed nurseries to restore declining seaweed forests.

All solutions have been trialled at various locations and have the potential for wider application. They are supported by scientific research and renowned academic organi­sations. The restoration measures will be implemented in France (Arcachon Bay), the Nether­lands (including Zeeland), Norway (Tromsø) and Portugal (Cascais & Peniche), while further sites in Germany and the UK are under consideration.

“We are very excited to launch Purina Europe’s first Ocean Restoration Programme. With the dramatic decline in marine bio­diversity, a concerted effort to restore it is needed. At Purina, we are committed to doing our part to combat the loss of marine biodiversity in our extended supply chain. Therefore, together with our partners, we are taking an active role in restoring marine habitats in Europe,” says Kerstin Schmeiduch, director of corporate communications and sustainability at Purina Europe.