About Southern Ocean Carbon

Expanding seaweed mariculture globally to leverage its many benefits for the environment and humankind.

Our Competitive Advantage

Consultancy capacity and management of projects worldwide, leveraging IP developed during research and through our relationship with ADEC Innovations and ADEC Kedge.

Existing relationships with major aquaculture companies

Links and partnerships with the credible, scientific research capacity worldwide

ADEC’s worldwide network, technology infrastructure and assurance expertise

Experienced marine engineering capacity

Easily accessible growing sites for demonstrations

Our Team

Darren Carey

General Manager

Darren is a seasoned senior executive in the maritime sector with a track record of outstanding leadership, strategic vision, and technical expertise. With a deep understanding of managing complex, safety-critical operations, Darren excels in navigating challenges and driving innovation in dynamic environments.

Tim Harmsen

Environmental Economist

Tim is an economics and business graduate with a joint honours in environmental economics and marine science. His passion for seaweed and Excel shaped his honours thesis on the economics of seaweed-based Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in Tasmania. Eager to help make positive change, Tim is working with Southern Ocean Carbon to advance more sustainable seaweed developments.

Callum T-Young

Marine Surveyor, Naval Architect, Coxswain

Callum is a Naval Architect and Marine Surveyor. Since the company’s inception, he has been integral to diverse projects, from designing and installing the first trial farms to actively managing the lease and conducting tours and inspections for the community and potential partners. As a local Tasmanian, he grew up by the ocean and is passionate about diving and keeping the ocean alive and sustainable.

Susie Buetow

Marketing Manager, Deckhand

Susie is a creative professional with extensive experience in marketing and communications and regenerative boat tour business operations. Susie’s passion for ocean and nature conservation is the compass that guides her, as she works with Southern Ocean Carbon towards a Blue Economy concept of responsibly harnessing ocean resources to drive economic growth, enhance quality of life and generate employment opportunities, while preserving the health of marine ecosystems.

Our History

Standing up for Future Generations

We started Southern Ocean Carbon in 2020 for a couple of reasons: One was a desire to make our sister company ADEC Kedge carbon neutral. On close investigation, the options available at the time didn’t make us confident that we were actually going to make a tangible, positive difference to our planet. Then there were our children. They were asking us what we were going to do to rectify some of the harmful behaviours of past generations, how were we making sure that we were going to leave things better than we had found them? – something we had always encouraged our children to do when they were at school.

Adam had been listening to the radio one day: a segment on seaweed and its many types and properties. Tim Flannery published his book ‘Sunlight and Seaweed’, and that’s how we became aware of the many benefits of seaweed, and we were hooked.

Teaming up with Knowledgeable Partners

Through mutual friends, we became aware of the climate change power couple of Caroline and Tom Remenyi. Not only are they fabulous people, but they have skills and knowledge about things that we didn’t. Caroline is a seaweed growing expert and Tom a climatologist. The brains trust was formed, Caroline and Tom remain advisors to this day.

Backing Through World Class Research

We joined the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (BECRC) in 2021 as one of 44 global partners. In collaboration with project leader Professor Craig Johnson and other experts in the field, we are working towards developing production systems for offshore kelp mariculture.

Learning, Growing and Evolving

What we thought we would do and what we have found ourselves doing has evolved over time, mostly in response to research. We are exploring options to grow seaweed globally because of the amazing properties it has, but our activities are not limited to this, so long as the “chain” remains clean – we are willing to explore and partner in a number of different projects, if they will restore some of the balance in biodiversity and achieve measurable positive outcomes.

Joining ADEC Innovations

In March 2023, Southern Ocean Carbon was acquired by ADEC Innovations, a global ESG, professional services and impact investment firm, a purpose-driven company aiming to accelerate the plans of Southern Ocean Carbon, especially the goal of being the leader in its field through its activities and consultancy.

ESG Purpose Statement

At Southern Ocean Carbon, we are driven by a passion for nourishing people and the planet through sustainable seaweed solutions.

We are dedicated to environmental stewardship by promoting practices that restore marine ecosystems, reduce our ecological footprint, and sustain the world.

We ensure authenticity through responsible sourcing and a transparent commitment to quality in everything we do.

With trust at the core of our relationships, we work closely with our partners and communities to drive innovation and resilience for a healthier, more sustainable future.