Education

Advancing Kelp Nursery Infrastructure and Technology Webinar

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Join us for a conversation on Advancing Kelp Nursery Technology and Infrastructure, Wednesday, February 1st
Last year, GreenWave revamped its kelp nursery and implemented new infrastructure and technology to: Increase labor and energy efficienciesImprove seed quality while reducing the costs of operationDevelop a modular model for kelp seed production that could be replicated throughout southern New England and beyond This presentation will review the major transformations to GreenWave’s kelp nursery, including water treatment systems, lighting, cooling, and standard operating procedures, and will share preliminary findings from the 2022-2023 production season. 

We invite insight, updates, and discussion from other hatchery technicians on lessons learned from the 2022-2023 season. The recording of this event will be shared on the Community in the Ocean Farming Hub. 

This conversation is part of GreenWave’s Farmer Forum, which is a series designed to bring active kelp farmers together to discuss seasonally-relevant topics with subject matter experts.Event DetailsAdvancing Kelp Nursery Infrastructure and Technology
February 1, 2023
3—4 PM EST (11 AM—12 PM AK) 
Online (Zoom)Register
Please reach out with any questions to farmertraining@greenwave.org.

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MxV7suyZTSKZiXpjzTNrog

Seaweeds of Alaska

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All kelp is seaweed, but not all seaweed is kelp

Seaweed is a general term for marine macroalgae, and includes over 10,000 different species and counting.  Macro algae are large algae that grows in the sea. Seaweeds use light from the sun, carbon dioxide and nutrients from seawater to grow.  Seaweed  can vary in shape, color, size, and flavor. Seaweed are in three groups — red, brown, and green. Kelp fall under brown seaweeds.

Check out Dr. Mandy Lindberg’s https://www.seaweedsofalaska.com  for a complete guide to seaweeds of Alaska

Green Wave Ocean Farming Hub

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GreenWave’s Regenerative Ocean Farming Hub is a free seed-to-sale training program designed by and for ocean farmers. The Hub includes interactive farm design tools, gear lists and budgets, how-to videos, and curriculum–all the nuts and bolts to launch and grow an ocean farm or kelp hatchery. Learn more and sign up: greenwave.org/hub

University of Alaska to host mariculture conference

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By Anne Gore | February 16, 2022

Alaska Sea Grant is participating in a mariculture conference hosted by the University of Alaska in Juneau, on April 12–14. Mariculture for Alaska’s Future: Status, Challenges and Opportunities will focus on the status of mariculture in the state, including challenges and opportunities for developing the industry.   

Pulling kelp into boat
Kelp farmer pulls kelp into boat. Photo by Chris Sannito.

The conference will support continued development of mariculture in Alaska through consideration of accomplishments and opportunities in the areas of research and education, policy and regulation, and industry growth. The conference will bring together practitioners, regulators, policymakers, and scientists, and will build on previous accomplishments of The Alaska Mariculture Task Force Mariculture Development Plan and a Final Report to the Governor, identifying actions and a roadmap for development of the industry. 

Sessions and panel discussions will cover a range of issues, from infrastructure and hatcheries, to training and workforce development, and research will be shared through poster presentations. Visit jedc.org/mariculture for details and to register.  The conference is open to all interested individuals.

Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP)

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MaPP Launches the Kelp StoryMap

First Nation and provincial partners of the Marine Plan Partnership (MaPP) are excited to announce the launch of an innovative communication tool, Regional Kelp Monitoring on the North Pacific Coast: A Community-Based Monitoring Initiative to Inform Ecosystem-Based Management, a StoryMap, to share information about their ongoing work to learn about kelp in Haida Gwaii, the North Coast, Central Coast, and North Vancouver Island.

Because kelp is such an important component of the marine ecosystem – culturally, economically, and ecologically – MaPP developed a Regional Kelp Monitoring Project. Each summer since 2017, Guardians have mapped the extent of kelp beds, collected data on kelp density, and assessed the condition of the kelp. The data can be used to inform kelp management as well as other research both locally and globally such as studies on the impacts of climate change.

Visit Regional Kelp Monitoring on the North Pacific Coast: A Community-Based Monitoring Initiative to Inform Ecosystem-Based Management, a StoryMap to learn about the importance of kelp, the MaPP kelp monitoring framework including how kelp is monitored, sub-regional highlights, collaborators supporting data collection, lessons learned, and the vision for the future. Some unique elements of the StoryMap include the First Nations names for different species of kelp, stories from each of the sub-regions about the focus and achievements of the Guardian crews, along with maps and research results.

The StoryMap is expected to be updated annually to share the most recent findings and accomplishments.

The MaPP initiative is a partnership between the Province of British Columbia and 17 member First Nations that developed and is implementing marine use plans for B.C.’s North Pacific Coast. The MaPP region is divided into four sub-regions: Haida Gwaii, North Coast, Central Coast and North Vancouver Island.

http://mappocean.org/