Florida's coast explores sustainable seaweed farming opportunities

Researchers at the University of Florida have already received a $250,000 grant from NOAA's National Sea Grant Aquaculture Program to lead this project.
Dry seaweed scattered on bright sand along Atlantic Ocean shore in Miami Beach on summer afternoon.

Dry seaweed scattered on bright sand along Atlantic Ocean shore in Miami Beach on summer afternoon.

Alexsander Shapovalov
Updated on

Researchers at the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and the Florida Sea Grant program are leading a project to explore whether seaweed could become the state's next major sustainable crop.

The project, which has already received a $250,000 grant from NOAA's National Sea Grant Aquaculture Program, brings together scientists, industry partners, and stakeholders to determine whether Florida can benefit from one of the fastest-growing commodity sectors in the world.

"Florida's vibrant shellfish aquaculture and commercial fishing industries provide an ideal opportunity to explore seaweed farming, since existing fisheries operations offer a skilled workforce and functional working waterfront infrastructure," said Angela Collins, Florida Sea Grant assistant Extension scientist specializing in marine fisheries and shellfish aquaculture at the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Lab.

Moreover, Ashley Smyth, associate professor of soil, water, and ecosystem sciences at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center and lead investigator on the initiative, noted that seaweed could serve both as a product for growers and as a tool to improve water quality.

Currently, seaweed farming in Florida exists only on a small scale and in closed tank systems. For that reason, the team is also assessing the market potential.

Andrew Ropicki, marine resource economics specialist at Florida Sea Grant UF/IFAS, along with shellfish grower Aaron Welch of Two Docks Shellfish Co., has already conducted small-scale pilot trials along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
WEAREAQUACULTURE
weareaquaculture.com