August 9, 2013 — In order to feed a rapidly growing population, there will need to be a greater focus on food farmed in the ocean. Kelp has been highlighted as a possible source due to its high nutrient quality and low input farming, writes Lucy Towers, TheFishSite Editor.
Speaking at a Gulf of Maine Reasearch Institute Sea State Lecture series, Paul Dobbins, from Ocean Approved, spoke about the potential of kelp farming and in particular, the farming of kelp in Maine, New England, USA.
Seaweed and kelp production currently represents 40 per cent of all the aquaulture production in the world, making it one of the largest farmed crops on earth.
Kelp is farmed in 28 coutries around the world, with the majority farmed in South Africa, Australia and Chile. There are also kelp farming industries in China, Japan and Korea where demand and consumtion of kelp is very high. The US currently brings in more seafood than it exports and, in terms of seaweed and kelp, the US imports around $700 million a year, meaning the US has the demand to justify building kelp farms.
Kelp is very popular as it is an excellent source of iodine, iron, fiber and calcium. Among its health benefits, eating kelp and seaweed has also being linked to low incidence of breast cancer.
Read the full story at The Fish Site