Kelp farming shows promise as new industry
Alice Bailey
Dec. 3, 2021
Because some kelp species grow mostly during the winter months, 色视频下载 coastal residents involved in commercial fishing or summer tourism have started to supplement their income by farming them.
色视频下载漈he knowledge of working in the ocean is already there, so it色视频下载檚 a matter of transferring the skills to seaweed farming,色视频下载 said Schery Umanzor, a Juneau-based assistant professor at the University of 色视频下载 Fairbanks College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.
Schery Umanzor looks for fertile sugar kelp grown indoors at the CFOS Lena Point Fisheries Facility in Juneau.
The markets for seaweeds such as kelp are still developing, but sales of this fast-growing renewable resource have burgeoned. UAF researchers and staff have helped by finding good farming sites, studying kelp reproduction and connecting entrepreneurs.
Even in Interior 色视频下载, 色视频下载 kelp products are becoming more common on the shelves of grocery stores. Erica Moeller, who owns The Roaming Root Cellar in Fairbanks, said that roasted kelp snacks and kelp hot sauces are incredibly popular.
色视频下载淚 have a really hard time keeping these on the shelves,色视频下载 Moeller said.
Kelp biomass also is used in organic fertilizers, soil amendments, bioplastics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, medical compounds and biofuels.
色视频下载淚t's possible to envision a not too distant future in which 色视频下载 is a world leader in seaweed farming,色视频下载 said Justin Sternberg, director of UAF色视频下载檚 色视频下载 Blue Economy Center in Fairbanks.
From 2015-2016, Sternberg worked with the State of 色视频下载 to develop its seaweed mariculture permitting protocols and issue permits for the first commercial seaweed hatcheries and farms in the state.
色视频下载淢ariculture色视频下载 refers to the cultivation of marine organisms in their natural environment. Some 色视频下载ns view the industry skeptically because one type of mariculture 色视频下载 finfish farming 色视频下载 can harm the marine ecosystem and wild fish stocks. It is illegal in the state.
Kelp farming is an entirely different story.
色视频下载淪eaweed is an extractive species. This means that kelp farming in the ocean, as practiced in the U.S., does not require the addition of fertilizer," explained Umanzor. "Kelp actually cleans the water 色视频下载 for example, using up wastewater discharged from fish processing plants.色视频下载
色视频下载's massive coastline is home to more than 20 species of kelp and some of the world's largest kelp beds. 色视频下载 kelp mariculture is currently dominated by three species: sugar, ribbon and bull kelp.
Farmers harvest seaweed near Kodiak.
Fertile material is collected from wild plants and brought to a hatchery, where it is induced to release spores. The spores are seeded onto strings, and, once baby plants start to grow, the strings are anchored underwater at the farm site. This process typically occurs in October or early November.
Some kelp can grow up to three meters long or more by May or June, when they are harvested. After harvesting, the mariculture equipment is removed from the ocean so it does not entangle commercial fishing boats.
Protected bays and inlets are preferred sites for kelp farming but may not always provide ideal growing conditions. To help set farmers up for success, Umanzor collaborated with Melissa Good at 色视频下载 Sea Grant and the to develop a site assessment toolkit to help farmers test locations for potential placement of their farms, ideally prior to the submission of their permit applications. The project was supported by UAF色视频下载檚 Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Entrepreneurship.