Sustainable Seaweed Farming

Our planet faces numerous environmental challenges, from climate change to dwindling natural resources. It's increasingly clear that our current food production systems are not only unsustainable but are also contributing to many of these problems. As we seek solutions to these global issues, one often overlooked possibility emerges from our oceans: seaweed!

Seaweed, also known as macroalgae, holds the promise of providing a nutritious and sustainable source of food (Psst, our seaweed snack bars make a deliciously nutritious and more sustainable healthy snack choice!). Why is seaweed considered sustainable? Here are some key reasons:

Minimal Resource Use:

Seaweed doesn't require freshwater, arable land, or fertilisers to grow. It thrives in the waters of our oceans, using sunlight and nutrients present in the seawater.

Biodiversity Enhancement:

Responsibly managed seaweed farms can provide a habitat for marine life, offering refuge and breeding grounds for various marine species and contributing to the overall health and biodiversity of marine ecosystems.

Fast Growth:

Seaweed grows rapidly, with some species reaching maturity in just a few weeks! This makes it an efficient and productive food source.

Lungs Of The Sea:

Did you know that nearly two thirds of all oxygen on Earth is produced by seaweeds and other aquatic plants like phytoplankton and seagrasses? ⁠This makes seaweeds incredibly important for the oxygenation of the air we breathe.⁠

What About Carbon Sequestration?

As photosynthesising plants, seaweed also has the ability to take up carbon as it grows.

However, there are many scientific questions surrounding this:

Firstly, there are major differences in seaweed farms and wild seaweed habitats in terms of long-term carbon storage. Seaweed farms set up for aquaculture do take up carbon as the seaweed grows, but when the seaweed is harvested, that carbon is then taken out of the ocean so no longer stored. Some of the seaweed material from a farm may become detached, but currently scientists aren't certain about where this material ends up, and ultimately if the carbon is stored long-term. This is a similar question for wild seaweed habitats.

Another point to consider is the respiration taking place within seaweed ecosystems, by seaweed itself and also by the marine species that live within seaweed habitats for shelter and a food source. Respiration (the chemical reaction that happens when organisms produce energy from glucose) has carbon dioxide as a by-product. Though the carbon-dioxide emitted from seaweed habitats is small, it needs to be considered when calculating carbon sequestration and storage potential on an ecosystem scale.

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Though there is much research to be done on the carbon storage potential of seaweed, there are so many other amazing benefits it provides as a wild ecosystem and sustainable farm system.

The Future of Seaweed Farming

While seaweed farming holds great promise, it's not without its challenges. We will discuss some of the main obstacles to overcome in a future blog - so stay tuned!

Here at High Tide Seaweed we’re focussed on the benefits of local small-scale regenerative ocean farming of seaweed as a sustainable alternative to our industrialised fertiliser and carbon-intensive current food system. This is why use Câr y Môr seaweed in our seaweed energy snack bars.

As consumers, you can also contribute by choosing sustainably farmed seaweed products, supporting organisations and initiatives that promote responsible seaweed farming, and raising awareness about the importance of these practices.