The Benefits
Far too little attention is paid to seaweed, yet these plants can reverse acidification in our oceans, build up depleted fish stocks and capture carbon at least five times more efficiently than tropical forests.
The total area along our coasts where the sea is sufficiently shallow for sunlight to penetrate and sustain marine vegetation, is roughly the same as the world’s tropical forests combined, about the size of Europe or the United States. Fully utilising the potential of what we call the Blue Front Yard is key to tackle global climate and environmental challenges, while creating local benefits for coastal communities.
Unlike plants and trees on land, planting seaweed needs no fertilizer or soil.
Seaweed species, such as kelp, are among the world’s fastest growing plants, delivering rapid rates of photosynthesis. Kelp forests can sustain large abundances of fish because of the nutrients it contains and the habitat it creates. Growing seaweed forests, or restoring ones that have disappeared, is a viable method of helping nature help itself to mitigate climate change.
Seaweed Forests provide many ecosystem services that:
Create jobs
Contribute to global food security
Improve human Health
Support a sustainable planet
Create jobs
Seaweed Harvest
- Human Consumption
- Animal Feed
- Fertilizer
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Bioplastics
- Biofuels
Habitat
- Productive Fisheries
- Biodiversity
- Recreational activities
Nutrient Filtration
- Mitigate Eutrophication
Wave Reduction
- Coastal protection
Oxygen Provision
- Mitigate Hypoxia
Carbon sequestration
- Mitigate Climate Change
- Mitigate Ocean Acidification
Seaweed Harvest
- Human Consumption
- Animal Feed
- Fertilizer
- Pharmaceuticals
- Cosmetics
- Bioplastics
- Biofuels
Habitat
- Productive Fisheries
- Biodiversity
- Recreational activities
Wave Reduction
- Coastal protection
Carbon sequestration
- Mitigate Climate Change
- Mitigate Ocean Acidification
Nutrient Filtration
- Mitigate Eutrophication
Oxygen Provision
- Mitigate Hypoxia