News

Each summer, thick mats of sargassum seaweed wash onto Florida beaches, bringing with them an unmistakable smell, costly cleanups and disruptions to animal conservation efforts.  And this year we are likely to see a record-breaking amount hit Florida shores, with an estimated 10 million metric tons of sargassum already floating in the Atlantic. But what if that seasonal nuisance could become something useful?

Students at Cal Poly Humboldt are working to expand research aimed at protecting oceans and kelp forests by scaling up seaweed aquaculture in Humboldt Bay.

Green cells whirl around a red-light chamber, propelled by a blade through bubbling water. These little seaweed cells, called gametophytes, will develop into a strain of fast-growing kelp — part of what was once a government-funded initiative to develop sustainable biofuels for American transport.

The possibility of using seaweed as a fertiliser is being explored by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture. Minister Clare Barber told the House of Keys this week that her department is examining the use of seaweed in farming, particularly as fertiliser costs rise due to global factors.

The annual plastic waste output from India reaches 3.5 million tonnes which mostly ends up in landfills and ocean waters. The environmental and health impact of conventional petroleum-based plastics continues to expand because of their single-use packaging and their ability to produce microplastics which contaminate both food sources and ocean ecosystems.

New trial results indicate that a seaweed-derived biostimulant could significantly improve table grape yields and quality, as South African producers face increasing costs and export pressures. 

Upgrade will help communities anticipate impacts, risks, and support planning and response.