We are writing this letter to confirm Hullbot is committing to helping enable the restoration and protection of kelp forests in the genera Ecklonia radiata, Macrocystis pyrifera, and Phyllospora comosa as a contribution to the KELP FOREST CHALLENGE.
This pledge includes the further development and manufacture of robots to automate the culling of sea urchins. Achieving our pledge will contribute to active restoration projects by preventing overgrazing of transplanted kelp and natural recruits, and contribute to the protection of existing kelp forests by mitigating urchin barren expansion.
First and foremost, we pledge to consult the respective rights-owners of Sea Country before conducting any large-scale field trials. We will work collaboratively and only with their permission.
We pledge to build partnerships with research organisations to use our technology to answer ecological questions and conduct urchin culling for restoration. In these partnerships, our robot’s survey capabilities will increase ecosystem monitoring capacity across meaningful temporal and spatial scales. This data collection is essential to informing adaptive management and quantifying restoration success. The production of 3D models from surveys will facilitate engagement with wider community through outreach, providing a visual tool to captivate and educate the public on the value of kelp ecosystems.
