Kelp and Ocean Acidification Cultivating Kelp

Photo: John Mickett at UW-APL KELP AND OCEAN Ocean acidification ACIDIFICATION harms ocean life. SHELLFISH What is ocean acidification? Ocean acidification directly impacts shellfish, by dissolving shells and interfering with new shell growth.

THE FOOD WEB CULTIVATING KELP Ocean acidification also affects Sustainable farming practices The ocean absorbs ~ 25% fish, whales, and sea birds who and environmental benefits. rely on shellfish and microscopic of the carbon dioxide we FARMED KELP emit into the atmosphere. plankton for food and habitat. Kelp is one of the fastest growing organisms on earth; some species can grow as much as 2-3 feet per day. Unlike meat, fish and even vegetable farming HUMANS practices, which use lots of resources, growing sugar Ocean acidification impacts kelp is low impact. Kelp farms require no fertilizers, fishermen and other communities pesticides, freshwater or arable land. that rely on healthy coastal habitats. If you enjoy eating local seafood, ocean acidification Sugar kelp growing season. Ocean acidification is caused by: impacts you as well! EARLY WINTER FOSSIL FUEL Kelp spores are seeded onto COMBUSTION spools of grow line and strung Combustion releases Kelp to the rescue! between buoys. This grid-shaped CO into the atmosphere. network of grow lines makes up 2 Like plants on land, marine algae and seaweeds the kelp farm. naturally take up carbon dioxide and nutrients. Sugar kelp, which is native to the Pacific LATE WINTER LOSS OF FOREST Northwest, absorbs carbon as it grows. Sugar kelp grows quickly — from Eliminating trees and seedling to 15 feet in just a few plants that take up Kelp beds are essential months. CO2 increases the parts of coastal rocky reef atmospheric CO 2 habitats in temperate oceans EARLY SPRING concentration. throughout the world. Kelp that will be eaten is Because of their fast growth harvested before it grows rate and large too large, thick and tough. URBAN RUNOFF stature, kelp contributes Runoff contains nutrients greatly to productivity of EARLY SUMMER and carbon that can shallow coastal marine Kelp reaches its peak biomass. further increase the level ecosystems and as habitat Once harvested, it can be for a diversity of fishes and processed into a variety of useful of CO2 in seawater. invertebrates. products, including organic fertilizer and biofuels. Photo: Washington Dept. of Ecology REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD KELP IN THE POWER HAVE YOUR KELP PUGET SOUND Kelp is a type of seaweed. It belongs to the brown algae Photos courtesy of Puget Sound Restoration Fund and SkyRoot Farm AND EAT IT, TOO. class and grows in nutrient-rich saltwater. The Pacific Northwest is home to hundreds of seaweed species including these nutritious and delicious varieties of kelp: OF It’s tasty. Kelp and other seaweeds are a great source of umami KELP flavoring, which is valued for making foods taste meatier.

It’s nutritious. Kelp is packed with iodine, Kelp and other seaweeds are an important part of the potassium, magnesium, marine ecosystem. Not only do they provide habitat and a source of food for a wide variety of sea life, kelp beds also calcium and iron; contains disperse wave energy to protect shorelines from erosion. more soluble fiber than most Sustainable harvest practices are critical to preserving wild fruits or vegetables; and kelp beds. Recreational harvest: a state license is required is an excellent source of and kelp may only be harvested for personal use; it may not antioxidants, folic acids, and be sold. vitamins A, B1, B12, C, D, E, riboflavin, and niacin. For comprehensive harvesting rules and regulations, visit www.dnr.wa.gov/seaweed. It’s sustainable. Kelp is one of the fastest growing organisms on Learn more earth and can grow as much as 15 feet in one To learn more about the benefits of kelp and where you can season. Farming it requires find local Washington-grown kelp, visit: no fertilizers, pesticides, www.oceanlinknw.com/kelp freshwater or arable land. wsg.washington.edu/kelp http://restorationfund.org/projects/ocean It’s low on the In partnership with: marine food web. The next Kelp is a nutritious food source that does not rely superfood on other marine life for food, making it one of the most and sustainable sustainable seafoods. It also provides habitat for other small edible species, like aquaculture shellfish. commodity. Photos courtesy of Puget Sound Restoration Fund and SkyRoot Farm