Industrial-scale seaweed production in development

A Flinders University research project aims to explore and develop industrial-scale seaweed production, expected to create hundreds of jobs in regional Australia.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) project aims to focus on the restoration of seaweed forests for aquaculture, a healthier marine environment and carbon storage. With funding from a $467,577 ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship, WA marine biologist Dr Georgina (‘George’) Wood will be expanding her work in the ecology, restoration and genomics of Australian seaweeds at Flinders University, in partnership with primary industry departments of SA and NSW.

The project will map and sample golden kelp and other seaweeds along the south-eastern coastline and combine genomics, artificial intelligence and experimental ecology to develop guidelines and technologies that maximise the growth and resilience of key seaweed species for aquaculture.

This will improve the design, assessment and implementation options for sustainable and productive use of Australian seaweeds, benefiting government, aquaculture and ecosystem management, according to Wood.

Her industry partners include government agencies, Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA), its research arm SARDI and the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Wood’s research with the University of Western Australia’s Oceans Institute includes contributing to pioneering work progressing the ‘green gravel’ technique in providing scalable, practical solutions to restore and ‘futureproof’ kelp forests.

The ARC-funded project, led by Prof. Thomas Wernberg, involves regeneration of ‘blue forests’ in golden kelp reefs in WA, some of which have been degraded by human activity, heatwaves and climate change.

Wood has also worked on seaweed genomics and ecology in NSW, including designing a restoration program for a locally extinct seaweed.

Seaweed cultivation is rapidly expanding globally for commercial production of food, pharmaceuticals, materials, agriculture supplements and ecosystem restoration. In Australia, it is forecast that seaweed production could become a $1.5 billion industry with 9000 jobs by 2040, while contributing to 10% of Australia’s emission reduction goals.

To achieve this, seedstock for hatcheries from wild seaweeds must be established and ocean-based seaweed farms must be significantly expanded.

Wood will join the College of Science and Engineering and collaborate with Associate Prof. Martin Breed, who leads the Frontiers of Restoration Ecology Lab at Flinders University, Flinders Prof. Elizabeth Dinsdale (marine genomics), Prof. Luciano Beheregaray (fisheries and aquaculture genomics ) and Dr Ryan Baring (marine restoration).

Dr Sasi Nayar, an experienced aquaculture expert in algal production from SARDI, will also be a key collaborator.

This partnership will include access to the SA Aquatic Sciences Centre’s analytical laboratory and support for field work and engagement with the seaweed aquaculture community.

As a significant stakeholder in the seaweed industry and SA marine environment, SARDI is responsible for ongoing seaweed restoration projects and the development of a hatchery for Ecklonia and other key algal species.

This collaboration further strengthens the strategic alliance between Flinders University and PIRSA, which was established in 2022.

Image credit: iStock.com/Tammy616

Originally published here.