Seaweed Farming
Seaweed farming is one of the most sustainable types of aquaculture. Expanding seaweed farming enhances carbon sequestration and boosts production of biomass that can be used for biofuel, bioplastic, livestock feed, and human consumption.
Introduction
Macroalgae are fast-growing marine plants that absorb high amounts of carbon dioxide. They are among the most productive organisms on Earth. Recent findings have quantified the long-term carbon sequestration potential of macroalgae at 0.17 gigatons of carbon per year, exceeding the carbon buried in coastal environments such as mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrass beds (111–131 gigatons of carbon per year).
Project Drawdown defines its Seaweed Farming solution as the culturing and cultivation of macroalgae in the ocean for long-term carbon sequestration in the form of excess unharvested biomass that is exported to the deep sea and/or ocean shelves and buried in ocean sediments. We assume this solution will be deployed in ocean areas that do not have alternative uses.
Macroalgae aquaculture comprises 27 percent of total marine aquaculture production and is valued at 5 percent of the total value of aquaculture crops. In 2005, global farmed macroalgae production was estimated at 13.5 million metric tons. By 2016, global yields more than doubled, reaching 31.2 million metric tons. The sharp increase in macroalgae farming between 2005 and 2016 is likely to continue with the leading producing nations focusing on ensuring the sector’s long-term sustainability.
Project ideas to get started
Market a new kelp school that teaches kelp cooking classes
Brand a kelp pop up or food convention
Brand a kelp food company
Packaging made of kelp that promotes kelp food company
Rebrand a fishing company into a kelp farm
