Give the Gift of Ocean Restoration 
Did you know that Sydney lost its underwater forests? Once, lush crayweed forests flourished along Sydney’s coastline, a key part of the Great Southern Reef, sheltering marine life and balancing our ocean ecosystems. But over the years, pollution and urban development has wiped out these vital habitats, leaving our waters less vibrant and less biodiverse. Now, thanks to Operation Crayweed, there’s a chance to bring this lost ecosystem back to life. This Christmas, PhycoHealth is thrilled to team up with Operation Crayweed, donating 5% of all online sales from 2 December to 25 December to help fund student research and restore metres of underwater habitat right off Sydney’s shores. So, while you shop, you’ll be helping to reforest the ocean!
Why Operation Crayweed? Because Our Oceans Deserve It
Crayweed forests, once home to countless marine species, play a key role in supporting marine biodiversity and health. Through Operation Crayweed, led by passionate marine ecologists Professor Adriana Vergés from UNSW and Associate Professor Ziggy Marzinelli from the Unversity of Sydney, we’re taking steps to reforest these underwater kelp forests and reclaim Sydney’s natural beauty.
Efforts through Operation Crayweed have already successfully restored 2ha of underwater forests, but they have a target of 60 ha. Your support will help finance students dedicated to researching and restoring crayweed*, bringing life back to areas that need it most along Sydney’s foreshore.
The Seaweed Sisters: Pia and Adriana's Mission to Restore the Oceans
Professor Adriana Vergés and myself, have always been undertaking marine ecosystem research for decades, and both of us were drawn to the important role of seaweed and kelp. While Adriana stayed on the route of academia, focusing on crayweed habitat restoration, I turned to green seaweed cultivation to capture excess nutrients at the ocean’s edge and protect coastal zones from harmful algal blooms, deoxygenation and ocean acidification.
This year, we reconnected as part of 100 Climate Conversations at the Power House Museum, celebrating our shared dedication to using seaweed to support ecosystems and communities. It’s inspiring to work toward a healthier coast together—Adriana on the underwater forests and me on land-sea nutrient capture.
How Seaweed Heals Our Planet and Feeds Our Future
Seaweed is a superhero for the environment, providing habitats, cleaning coastal waters, and even offering nutritious, sustainable food. With crayweed forests restored, marine life can flourish; with PhycoHealth’s cultivated green seaweed, nutrients are captured before reaching the ocean. Together, they create a powerful system of regeneration. So, this Christmas, let your gifts to loved ones also be gifts to the planet!
How to Support and Join the Mission
From 2 December to 25 December, every purchase from PhycoHealth will help us donate 5% to Operation Crayweed. Your contributions will support new research, fund student-driven restoration projects, and revive Sydney’s underwater forests. Let’s kelp PhycoHealth this Christmas and make a real impact on the health of our coasts. Unwrap the magic of giving back to the ocean!
*Adriana will use this funding to add new restoration sites to the Sydney coastline, between Palm Beach and Cronulla, and to support student research to enhance the ability of crayweed to sustain warmer oceans.
