Sustainable Seaweed Harvest Management

Erick Ask FMC BioPolymer

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About FMC
Diversified Chemical Company. Traded on NYSE, ticker symbol FMC Ag Chem, Industrial, Specialty Chemicals. #1 in carrageenan and alginate. Based in Philadelphia

Red seaweed resource Brown seaweed resource

Commercial Algae and Uses

Hydrocolloids Fertilizer/Plant Food Human Food Nutraceuticals Spa/Beauty Medicinal uses BioFuel?

M. Indergaard (1983). The aquatic resource. I. The wild marine plants: a global bioresource. In Cote, W. A. Biomass utilization. Vol. Plenum Publishing Corporation, 137-168 From www.seaweed.ie

Commercial Algae and Uses

Seaweed Industry in the Caribbean CANARI
Irish Moss drink

Seaweed Industry in the Caribbean Potential markets?

Spa/beauty product for tourisms industry (cruise ships). Seaweed (Gracilaria or Eucheuma isiforme) for salad in Asian fusion restaurants in U.S. Live Rock

Define Sustainable Harvest

Reproduction and biomass assure future supply Ecosystem Beds continue to fulfill their role of habitat, food, competition even with harvest. Economic cost and quality Employment how many jobs? how much income?
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Case Study
Norwegian Laminaria hyperborea
Started in 1960s Company initiated plan. Based on understanding biology, ecology, substrate and ecosystem Pronova (now FMC BioPolymer) is the only harvester. 5 year cycle so 5 zones.
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Vormedal
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

Case Study
Norwegian Laminaria hyperborea
Government approved management plan in 2002. Must stay engaged with politicians and environment/fisheries agencies.

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Case Study
Chilean Sarcothalia crispata
When started, in 1970s, based on collecting beach material. Mature plants, completed life cycle, harvested by wave action. Carrageenan yield and gel strength/viscosity were very attractive.

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Case Study
Chilean Sarcothalia crispata
Increased demand led to diver harvesting in 1990s and more buyers. Removing younger plants and substrate. Lower carrageenan yield and extract quality. Lower populations? Poor post harvest handling. Chile trying community based management 12 plan.

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Case Study
Australian Durvillaea potatorum
Kelp Industries Ltd. is only buyer. Harvested as storm toss on beach. Sustainable since 1976.
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Summary of Case Studies

One buyer/harvester with active harvesting (Norway). Many buyers/harvesters with active harvesting (Chile). One buyer/harvester with passive harvesting (Australia).

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Lessons from Fisheries Management

One buyer/harvester and passive harvesting are easily sustainable. Numerous buyers/harvesters with active harvesting needs good manageemnt and enforcement. How?

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Lessons from Fisheries Management

Concessions? Education? Buyer based management (diver protocol, fishing season)? Co-Management? Hatchery seeded beds and leasing production areas. Quota? Community based management? Permits? Shares? Purchase right to harvest?

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Conclusion
Ownership = responsibility No shortcuts Corruption attitude leads to shortcuts which ultimately destroy populations and ecosystems. Approach can depend on level of quality governance, cultural attitudes, financial resources With limited Government resources, probably best to be self policed within biological constraints.
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Conclusions
Learn from other natural resource management plans not just seaweed. Each situation is unique due to biology, culture of residents, government resources Need communication and work in progress attitude. No one will get all they want and not every initiative will work. But nothing ventured, nothing gained.

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