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From kelp to creatures: the impact of seaweed cultivation on biodiversity
Jóhanna Alberg, Research Assistant, Ocean Rainforest, Faroe Islands
Jóhanna Alberg, Research Assistant, Ocean Rainforest, Faroe Islands
About the speaker:
Jóhanna, who holds an MSc in Biology, joined Ocean Rainforest in March 2023. Since then, she has taken on the role as a research assistant and actively contributed to several projects within the company, including documenting the ecosystem services associated with seaweed cultivation in the Faroe Islands as part of the SeaMark project.
Company info:
Ocean Rainforest is a pioneering blue growth company located in the Faroe Islands and in California, USA. The company offers a collection of seaweed products, mostly for feed, food and cosmetic producers, as well as taking part in research projects with a number of different partners.
Their inbuilt focus on research and innovation enables them to develop world-class cultivation methods - making them Europe's leading seaweed cultivator and a pioneer in the industry.
The team shares the same values of passion, teamwork and pioneering, and through a diverse set of skills and years of combined experience, they continue to explore the potential of this versatile sea plant to meet growing market demand.
Their purpose is to improve people’s wellbeing and to make a unique contribution to our blue planet. They do this by applying science, innovation and expertise, to grow premium quality seaweed for the target customer segments.
Presentation:
In the vast blue expanse of our oceans, a quiet revolution is underway. As we cultivate seaweed at sea, we inadvertently create a novel habitat — one that did not exist before. This artificial ecosystem, characterized by swaying fronds and hidden life, holds promise for biodiversity. Our observations hint at a positive impact, but empirical data remains elusive. Partially funded by the SeaMark project - we aim to investigate the intricate tapestry of life surrounding our seaweed-lines.