https://phys.org/news/2025-02-seaweed-farms-pose-vital-marine.html
"Seaweed farming is a rapidly expanding global industry. As a food resource, it
has high nutritional value and doesn't need fertilizers to grow. Seaweed
provides valuable habitats for marine life, takes up carbon and absorbs
nutrients, plus it helps protect our coastlines from erosion.
Usually, seaweeds grow on hard, rocky surfaces. Yet, to farm seaweed, potential
areas need to be easily accessible and relatively sheltered. This is where
seaweed can grow with limited risk of being dislodged by waves. Seaweed farms
in Asia, in countries like China and Indonesia, are responsible for more than
95% of global seaweed production. Seaweed farms, particularly those in
Southeast Asia, are commonly in the very same environments where seagrass
meadows thrive. Competition for resources ensues.
Evidence shows that tropical seaweed farms, when placed in or on top of
tropical seagrass meadows leads to a decline in the growth and productivity of
seagrass. There is also evidence that seaweeds outcompete seagrasses in cooler
waters, especially when nutrients in the water are very high.
Despite negative interactions, such as shading, between seaweed and seagrass,
some scientists now advocate for a global expansion of seaweed farming in areas
where seagrass grows. This call, comes at a time when seagrass global
initiatives are trying to stem seagrass loss.
Efforts are underway to expand these habitats to their once extensive range to
help fight climate change and biodiversity loss. Seagrass meadows are a crucial
store of carbon, providing habitats for a wide array of animals."
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
