Blue Ocean Gear
Blue Ocean Gear designs and sells ruggedized, depth-rated smart sensor buoys that transmit GPS and environmental data via satellite and radio to enable real-time tracking and recovery of commercial fishing gear, aquaculture arrays, and research assets for fishers, aquaculture farmers, and government agencies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSan Mateo, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Blue Ocean Gear does
Blue Ocean Gear Inc. is a privately held hardware and software company that designs and sells ruggedized, depth-rated sensor buoys (the Farallon Smart Buoy) for real-time tracking of deployed fishing gear in commercial fisheries, aquaculture, and marine research. The buoy transmits GPS, movement, and environmental data (water temperature, acceleration) via dual-band Iridium satellite and radio communication, with a 400m depth rating, automatic water-sensing activation, customizable transmission frequency (15 minutes to daily), and battery life up to six months. The integrated product ecosystem includes the Smart Charger (wireless charging dock), the PlotterLink transceiver for universal chart plotter compatibility (Garmin, Furuno, Raymarine, Olex, TIMEZERO), mobile apps for iOS and Android, and the BlueVue/BlueView web data portal for fleet-level analytics and historical pattern mapping.
The company sells primarily through direct sales (phone and email quotes) with volume discounts on orders of 30 or more buoys, supplemented by a network of regional distributors in North America (Canada, Maine, New England, California, Alaska/Washington) and internationally (Australia, New Zealand). Its primary commercial segment is wild capture fisheries (crab, lobster, longline, deep-set swordfish, FADs), with secondary segments in aquaculture (kelp and shellfish farms), on-demand ropeless gear, and government/research customers including NOAA, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of buoys and accessories, with software platform access functioning as a subscription-like recurring layer, though pricing is not publicly disclosed.
Blue Ocean Gear is founder-led by CEO and co-founder Kortney Opshaug and co-founder Peter Macy, and has raised approximately $7.1M in disclosed funding from impact-oriented investors (Builders Vision, Good Growth Capital, Gratitude Railroad, Conservation International Ventures, Boost VC, Signia Venture Partners) and a $4.2M round in May 2023 led by BDT & MSD Partners, alongside non-dilutive grants from NOAA and the Government of Canada. The company participates in the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, attended the 2025 UN Ocean Conference as an official delegate, and is positioned at the intersection of commercial fishing economics, marine conservation, and regulatory-driven demand for whale-friendly gear.
Blue Ocean Gear firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Blue Ocean Gear
- Legal name
- Blue Ocean Gear Inc.
- Website
- https://blueoceangear.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Blue Ocean Gear designs and sells ruggedized, depth-rated smart sensor buoys that transmit GPS and environmental data via satellite and radio to enable real-time tracking and recovery of commercial fishing gear, aquaculture arrays, and research assets for fishers, aquaculture farmers, and government agencies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Blue Ocean Gear industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Fishing Technology
- NAICS
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring) (IMAJAJAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fleet, Asset Tracking & Telematics Location Platforms (BPAMANAF), Fishing Electronics & Marine Tech Retail (Fishfinders, GPS, Sonar) (CRAMALAH)
Keywords
Where Blue Ocean Gear is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Mateo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Blue Ocean Gear business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Smart Buoy Hardware Sales: Sale of Farallon Smart Buoys - ruggedized depth-rated sensor buoys for commercial fishing, aquaculture, and research applications. Battery can last up to 6 months between charges depending on data frequency settings.
- Accessories and Peripherals: Smart Charger (wireless charging dock), PlotterLink transceiver for universal plotter connectivity, and other accessories
- Software Platform Access: BlueView web portal, iOS and Android mobile apps, PlotterSync for TIMEZERO integration - integrated into buoy ecosystem with subscription-like access model
- Volume and Enterprise Pricing: Volume discounts offered for orders of 30+ buoys; direct sales quote-based pricing for enterprise/fleet customers
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise/Fleet Volume |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Smart Buoy |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels12 records
Marketing channels7 records
Blue Ocean Gear product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Blue Ocean Gear designs, manufactures, and sells the Farallon Smart Buoy — a ruggedized, depth-rated (400m) sensor buoy with dual-band Iridium satellite and radio communication that enables real-time GPS tracking, movement monitoring, and environmental data collection for gear deployed in commercial fisheries, aquaculture, and ocean research. The buoy offering is supported by accessories (Smart Charger, PlotterLink transceiver) and a software ecosystem (Buoy Locator mobile app, BlueView/BlueVue web portals, PlotterSync) that lets customers access buoy data via chart plotters, mobile devices, and browsers.
Product overview
Blue Ocean Gear offers an integrated Smart Buoy system consisting of the Farallon Smart Buoy as the core hardware product, complemented by the Smart Charger and PlotterLink transceiver as add-on accessories. The software ecosystem includes Plotter Integration for chart plotters, the Buoy Locator mobile app for iOS and Android, the BlueView web interface, and the BlueVue data portal for PC-based fleet management. PlotterSync provides TIMEZERO Professional integration. The system transmits GPS location, movement, and environmental data via Iridium satellite and radio to enable real-time gear tracking, anomaly detection, and recovery for commercial fisheries, aquaculture, and research applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Farallon Smart Buoy A depth-rated ruggedized hard plastic buoy designed for offshore fishing that transmits location and movement data via Iridium satellite and radio. Features automatic water-sensing activation, 400m depth rating, and customizable data transmission from 15 minutes to once per day with battery life up to 6 months.
- Smart Charger
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 90% reduction in gear loss rates for gear-intensive fisheries
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Blue Ocean Gear
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Blue Ocean Gear technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability3 records
Feature9 records
Blue Ocean Gear partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Builders InitiativeminorImpact partner supporting ocean stewardship and sustainable fishing initiatives through foundation funding and programmatic support
- NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)coreOfficial partner in on-demand gear technology trials and whale-friendly fishing gear development programs. Smart Buoys are key enabling technology in NOAA trials of ropeless gear.
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)coreKey partner in Canadian on-demand gear trials and whale conservation initiatives. Smart Buoys provide critical gear marking function for scheduled and accidental releases.
- Conservation InternationalminorImpact partner supporting sustainable ocean health and fishing community initiatives through Conservation International Ventures LLC
- Global Ghost Gear InitiativecoreProud member of the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, working to reduce abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) in the world's oceans
- Schmidt Ocean Institute / Schmidt Marine Technology PartnersminorImpact partner supporting ocean science and sustainable fishing technology through marine research initiatives
- University of Southern Mississippi - Roger Wicker Ocean Enterprise FacilityminorAcademic partnership supporting ocean enterprise and marine technology development
- Gulf BlueminorRegional ocean technology initiative supporting sustainable fishing in the Gulf of Mexico
- PIER (Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans)minorResearch partnership supporting coastal ocean research and sustainable fishing communities
- TIMEZERO ProfessionalcoreChart plotter software integration via PlotterSync Windows App, enabling Smart Buoy data display on TIMEZERO Professional plotters with internet connectivity
- GarmincoreChart plotter compatibility via PlotterLink for last-mile recovery without internet. Smart Buoy data integrates with Garmin hardware plotters.
- FurunocoreChart plotter compatibility via PlotterLink for Furuno hardware plotters
- OlexcoreChart plotter compatibility via PlotterLink for Olex hardware plotters
- RaymarinecoreChart plotter compatibility via PlotterLink for Raymarine hardware plotters
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Blue Ocean Gear competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Garmin: Global leader in chart plotters and marine electronics with which Blue Ocean Gear integrates via PlotterLink. Garmin's broad marine portfolio (GPS, sonar, AIS) overlaps with BOG's tracking and plotter-display functionality, but Garmin does not specialize in ruggedized satellite buoys for commercial fisheries.
- Navico (SIMRAD / Lowrance / B&G): Marine electronics conglomerate behind SIMRAD, Lowrance, and B&G plotter brands. Comparable to BOG in serving commercial fishers via chart plotters and sonar, but does not offer a ruggedized Iridium buoy product line for gear tracking.
- Raymarine: Major marine electronics brand (FLIR/parent) making chart plotters, sonar, and AIS systems that integrate with Blue Ocean Gear via PlotterLink. Operates broadly in marine electronics rather than as a specialized satellite-buoy vendor for gear tracking.
- Furuno: Established marine electronics manufacturer of fishfinders, radar, sonar, and chart plotters, with which BOG integrates via PlotterLink. Furuno competes in the broader marine-electronics space but lacks a depth-rated, dual-band satellite buoy product for commercial fishing gear tracking.
Direct peers
- CLS Group (Collecte Localisation Satellites): France-based satellite IoT firm providing vessel and fisheries monitoring solutions, including gear-tracking and anti-IUU tools. Direct competitor in the satellite-based fisheries monitoring category where Blue Ocean Gear operates, with comparable technology and customer base.
- Yellowbrick Tracking: Provider of Iridium-based satellite tracking devices for marine, outdoor, and asset-tracking applications. Closely comparable to Blue Ocean Gear's Smart Buoy hardware from a technology and connectivity standpoint, though Yellowbrick serves broader asset-tracking verticals beyond commercial fishing.
- em-trak (Electronic Marketing Ltd): Manufacturer of AIS transceivers and marine safety electronics. Represents the AIS-based alternative to BOG's Smart Buoys that the company's own customer evidence compares against, making it a credible direct competitor in gear-tracking for commercial fishers.
- Innovasea (formerly Vemco / Star-Oddi): Aquaculture and fish-tracking technology company offering acoustic telemetry, environmental sensors, and farm-monitoring systems. Directly comparable to BOG in aquaculture monitoring and remote sensor applications for marine environments.
Others
- Iridium Communications: Satellite network operator providing the Iridium connectivity that Blue Ocean Gear's Smart Buoys depend on. Infrastructure partner and supplier rather than a direct competitor, but Iridium's partner ecosystem and pricing shape BOG's unit economics.
Regional players
- Pole Star Marine (PurpleTRAC): Vessel-tracking and maritime intelligence provider serving commercial shipping and fishing fleets globally. Closely adjacent to BOG's gear-tracking concept but focused on ship-level tracking rather than deployed-gear buoys; a potential competitive entrant if it expands into sub-asset tracking.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Blue Ocean Gear social profiles
Digital presenceBlue Ocean Gear financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Blue Ocean Gear leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Blue Ocean Gear funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds11 records
Investors16 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Blue Ocean Gear M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Blue Ocean Gear
What does Blue Ocean Gear do?
Blue Ocean Gear designs, manufactures, and sells the Farallon Smart Buoy — a ruggedized, depth-rated (400m) sensor buoy with dual-band Iridium satellite and radio communication that enables real-time GPS tracking, movement monitoring, and environmental data collection for gear deployed in commercial fisheries, aquaculture, and ocean research. The buoy offering is supported by accessories (Smart Charger, PlotterLink transceiver) and a software ecosystem (Buoy Locator mobile app, BlueView/BlueVue web portals, PlotterSync) that lets customers access buoy data via chart plotters, mobile devices, and browsers.
Is Blue Ocean Gear a public or private company?
Blue Ocean Gear is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Blue Ocean Gear founded?
Blue Ocean Gear was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Blue Ocean Gear based?
Blue Ocean Gear is headquartered in San Mateo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Blue Ocean Gear make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Smart Buoy Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are accessories and Peripherals, software Platform Access and volume and Enterprise Pricing.
Who are Blue Ocean Gear's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Garmin, Navico (SIMRAD / Lowrance / B&G), Raymarine and Furuno. Direct peers are CLS Group (Collecte Localisation Satellites), Yellowbrick Tracking, em-trak (Electronic Marketing Ltd) and Innovasea (formerly Vemco / Star-Oddi). Iridium Communications is listed as an others. Pole Star Marine (PurpleTRAC) is listed as a regional player.
Does Blue Ocean Gear have an API?
No public API is recorded for Blue Ocean Gear.
What industry is Blue Ocean Gear in?
Blue Ocean Gear's product category is Marine Fishing Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAJAI, Marine Sensors, Instrumentation & IoT (Condition Monitoring), with a secondary code of BPAMANAF, Fleet, Asset Tracking & Telematics Location Platforms. Its NAICS code is 334511 and its SIC code is 3823.