As Seaweed Farming Grows, Researchers Aim to Close Knowledge Gaps

Along the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia, seaweed farming is growing rapidly, driven by growing demand for the marine algae in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and other products. Although most of the world’s seaweed production takes place in Asia, communities in Alaska and British Columbia see seaweed farming as an opportunity to build economic and ecosystem resilience to numerous threats, including climate change.

Seaweed farming has the potential to mitigate ocean acidification, improve water quality, and provide habitat for marine life. But as with any new industry, the possibility of negative impacts also exists. Poorly planned and sited seaweed farms could alter existing ecosystems for the worse by shading the seafloor, changing nutrient dynamics, entangling marine mammals, or introducing invasive species.

Getting a true sense of how seaweed farms affect coastal marine environments in Alaska and British Columbia will require both baseline data about conditions before farms start operating and ongoing monitoring as farming ramps up. Collecting data before the industry grows significantly will ensure that farmers and regulators can understand the direct and indirect impacts—both positive and negative—on ecological conditions and support sustainable management decisions in the future. But because data collection can be costly and time-consuming, monitoring programs must be designed to be as efficient and feasible as possible. 

A new collaboration between The Pew Charitable Trusts and ESSA Technologies, a global environmental consulting firm based in British Columbia, will explore how to set up effective monitoring programs that are also feasible and cost-effective for farmers and regulators to implement. ESSA is collaborating with the Prince William Sound Science Center and Alaska Fisheries Science Center to review the existing  science in this sector and convene experts from the seaweed farming sector, academia, and government to identify gaps in data collection and knowledge.

In February, researchers from ESSA began connecting with Alaskan and British Columbian farmers and other experts to discuss the opportunities presented by this burgeoning industry and to identify monitoring priorities and needs. Throughout this year, the researchers will continue these conversations and carry out additional work to:

• Identify which impacts of seaweed farmers, scientists, and regulators should monitor.
• Create a list of indicators—such as water quality, pH, or the extent to which wild marine life uses farms as habitat—that can be used to track those impacts.
• Produce an inventory of existing programs that already collect that data and identify key knowledge gaps that might require new monitoring strategies.
• Incorporate guidance and lessons from monitoring programs in other regions for seaweed farming and related sectors, such as finfish and shellfish aquaculture.

This project is designed to complement other independent research that explores traditional ecological knowledge that’s been cultivated and preserved through centuries. Ultimately, the intent is to braid ESSA’s findings with Indigenous knowledge to help produce regionally tailored recommendations for monitoring of seaweed farming in a way that is effective, practical, and respectful of Indigenous governance, knowledge, and data sovereignty.

Seaweed farming could have significant impacts on Alaskan and British Columbian communities and ecosystems. Ensuring that it grows sustainably and inclusively will be critical to protecting the economic and environmental health of the region. When both of these projects are completed, farmers, their local communities, scientists, and government officials will have more robust information that can support more effective planning and lead to policy decisions that reflect a more holistic understanding of ecosystem changes and sustainable seaweed farming practices.

Rachel Hopkins is the director of Pew’s seaweed farming project and Katelyn Theuerkauf is an officer on Pew’s conservation science team.