Sustainability
We build a healthier ocean by replacing lead weights with zinc fishing weights
WHY ZINC?
Lead is Poisoning Our Ocean
Lead weights used in fishing nets gradually dissolve in seawater, releasing toxic heavy metals that accumulate in marine organisms and eventually enter the human food chain.
Lead is classified as a Group 2A carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Continued use of lead weights is now recognized globally as a serious marine pollution issue.
Ocean Tech's zinc weights are a completely eco-friendly alternative — zinc is an essential mineral naturally found in seawater with zero toxicity.
Lead Weight
- Toxic heavy metal
- Short lifespan (1–2 years)
- Frequent replacement
- IARC 2A carcinogen
OceanTech Zinc
- Zero toxicity
- 10x longer lifespan
- 80% cost savings
- SVHC 235 non-detected
DETAILED COMPARISON
Zinc vs Lead
PILOT PROGRAM
Goseong County, Gangwon
Real-world pilot completed with fishing boats in Goseong County.
31mo
Trial Period
Long-term pilot conducted from 2020–2023 in actual fishing conditions in Goseong waters.
19
Fishing Vessels
19 vessels from Goseong Fisheries Cooperative verified effectiveness in real conditions.
~$80K
Project Scale
Total pilot scale combining government support and private investment for mass production validation.
80%
Cost Reduction
Zinc weights last 5x longer, reducing annual per-fisher replacement costs by over 80%.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Why It Matters
Heavy Metal Pollution Prevention
Zinc is a mineral naturally present in seawater. Unlike lead, it poses no toxicity to marine ecosystems. Simply replacing lead weights can reduce marine heavy metal pollution by thousands of tons annually.
Carbon Neutrality Aligned
Certified under the Ministry of Environment Green Technology program. Fully compliant with Korea's Carbon Neutrality Framework Act, Article 60.
80% Cost Reduction for Fishers
Zinc weights last 5x longer than lead, cutting per-fisher annual replacement costs by over 80%. Proven in the Goseong County pilot.
10-Year Lifespan, Minimal Replacement
Under 1g weight loss in 30-month real-use tests. Verified durability enables 10+ year use vs lead replacement cycles of 1–2 years.