Restoring Marine Biodiversity: Living Sea Walls

Bringing the Ocean Back to Life, One Wall at a Time

Our Living Sea Walls project is moving forward in Cape Town, South Africa. This will be the first installation of its kind on the continent and a big step in restoring marine life along the city’s coastline.

Since our last update, we’ve made great progress. We’ve been working closely with marine scientists and local stakeholders, preparing community engagement materials, and raising awareness about the benefits of the wall. The excitement in the community is building, and people are eager to see the project come to life.

Fundraising has gone well so far, but we still have a way to go before we can install and monitor the wall in early 2026. Every donation brings us closer to our goal, helping to create habitat for fish, shellfish, and other marine species while making Cape Town’s coastline healthier and more sustainable.

This project is more than a wall. It’s a chance for nature to recover, a way to inspire the community to care for the environment, and a step toward showing that people and nature can thrive together in urban spaces.

We are also proud to be part of the Action Change Impact Advent Calendar this year. By purchasing a calendar today, starting December 1st, you will support 24 projects like ours, spreading hope and impact every day of the season

Bringing the Ocean Back to Life, One Wall at a Time

What began on the shores of Australia as a bold idea by researchers at the University of New South Wales has grown into a global movement that is restoring ocean ecosystems in cities around the world. Living Sea Walls are now breathing life into coastlines across multiple continents — from Sydney and Melbourne to Singapore, Gibraltar, Plymouth in the UK, and most recently, Boston in the USA.

Boston’s new wall marks an exciting milestone — the first of its kind in North America. Designed using innovative materials adapted for the cold Atlantic environment, this wall is already welcoming marine life back just weeks after installation. It’s proof that, even in urban harbors, we can create space for nature to recover and thrive.

Plymouth in the UK has also played a key role in this movement. Situated on one of the most historically significant coastlines in Britain, the wall here has shown how these panels can merge with heritage infrastructure while still delivering critical biodiversity benefits.

And now, a new chapter is ready to begin in Africa. The team in Cape Town, South Africa, has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare for the continent’s first Living Sea Wall. We’ve identified the installation site, connected with marine scientists and local stakeholders, and begun producing outreach materials to engage the community.

We’ve raised 40% of the total funding needed — and now we need your help to close the gap. With just $10,000 left to raise, we are aiming to hit this target by January 2026 so we can begin installing and monitoring the wall in early 2026.

This isn’t just a wall — it’s a lifeline for biodiversity, a commitment to sustainable cities, and a message that when people and nature work together, recovery is possible. Thank you for walking this journey with us. If you’re able, please consider donating today to help bring the Living Sea Wall to life in Cape Town.

Together, we can restore the edges of our cities — and the heart of our oceans.