May 20, 2021 Jim Keithley — wmtw.com/article
A group of University of New England marine biology students is learning about Maine’s ecosystem by planting and harvesting seaweed.
The students planted the seaweed seedlings month ago off the coast of Maine and returned Thursday to check on them, hauling out huge ribbons of seaweed.
There are several active research projects underway.
“The seaweed farms are providing – or we think they’re providing – that’s what we’re studying – habitat and structure for other organisms that we care about,” UNE School of Marine and Environmental Programs Carrie Byron, Ph.D. said.
Scientists said natural, wild kelp beds are in decline, and the students are wondering if their man-made kelp farm is helping the ecosystem.
“It’ll be really interesting to see what results we get and what kind of fish we are seeing within the kelp,” student Emilly Schutt said.
Another research project revolves around the edible side of kelp. Eating seaweed is nothing new. It can be dried and turned into spices and teas, but there are new products on the horizon.
“Like kelp sauerkraut and kelp noodles and kelp pickles and kelp salsas yeah the industry is getting very creative in different types of food products for seaweeds,” Byron said.
Seaweed as food intrigues student Hannah Korper.
“I think like it’s this up-and-coming industry with food and a lot of different things you can put it in which I think is the coolest part about it,” Korper said.
Even though it is believed eating seaweed is safe, it is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
“We don’t expect there to be much risk, but we also have no data on that,” Byron said.
All of the data is collected and studied back at the lab. UNE received funding for two years for the research.
“The entire kelp farm is being hauled out of the water through Friday so not to compete with the lobster industry this summer, but the students will be back at it in the fall.