German designer, Aaron Mooser, has developed the Symbios buoy system for sustainable seaweed cultivation and farming. Originally conceptualised as a bachelor’s thesis at Bauhaus University Weimar, the project aimed to explored how product design can help create a more resilient and ecologically sensitive form of ocean farming. The resulting design, Symbios, is a system of interconnected buoys that regulates the depth at which seaweed grows. During warmer months, air chambers allow the cultivation lines to be submerged into cooler, deeper water, helping maintain favourable growing conditions throughout the year. This enables continuous farming through the seasons for farmers.
The system addresses the challenge of constant monitoring of offshore crops that farmers face when working in aquaculture. The buoy system’s sensors collect environmental data and transmit it to a digital dashboard, allowing farmers to monitor conditions remotely. To promote longevity and sustainability of the hardware, buoy system is modular to allow for easy repairs or replacement components.
Developed through extensive research and expert consultation across marine biology, engineering and seaweed farming, Symbios aims to improve the yield whilst supporting marine biodiversity by maintaining seaweed growth continuously rather than clearing and replanting crops seasonally. The design has been recognised by the Green Concept Award.
