Seaweed aquaculture requires reliable hatchery protocols to ensure a consistent supply of seedstock for cultivation. Durvillaea spp. (order Fucales), are large canopy-forming brown seaweeds native to the cool waters of the southern hemisphere and have been identified as a promising candidate for cultivation. However, components of the hatchery methods remain poorly characterised. This study investigated key factors influencing...

The large fucoid alga Durvillaea potatorum (southern bull kelp) has been identified as a suitable species for offshore seaweed aquaculture due to its large size, preference for wave-exposed sites, and high levels of bioproducts. However, there is a limited understanding of its reproduction and early life-cycle biology and a lack of scalable nursery techniques. We conducted experiments assessing: 1) gamete release, fertilisatio...

Durvillaea spp. (Fucales) occur on wave-exposed coasts in parts of the southern hemisphere. In Tasmania, Australia, a small but economically valuable industry (> US$1.5 million GVP) harvests beach-cast Durvillaea potatorum , primarily for alginates and liquid plant biostimulants. Currently, demand for D. potatorum biomass exceeds supply, prompting interest in aquaculture to sustainably increase production. However, fundamental...

Seaweed aquaculture is rapidly growing globally and offers environmental benefits such as reducing eutrophication and increasing biodiversity. Sweden has a long coast with favorable conditions for seaweed cultivation, but the current industry remains small. Over the past decade, several innovative research projects have explored and developed techniques tailored toward sustainable seaweed aquaculture. This study synthesizes re...

Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a widely considered marine CO 2 removal method. Ocean alkalinity enhancement works by converting seawater CO 2 into and by electrochemical methods or the addition of alkaline minerals. Although OAE does not require biology to remove CO 2 , the perturbations caused by OAE may affect marine organisms. Due to logistical challenges, it is likely that alkalinity additions will occur in coastal...

We found that an innovative nursery approach, where Lessonia corrugata seeded spools were cultivated by spinning to increase the water motion relative to non-spinning spools, had higher growth in both the nursery and at-sea stages. Using this method, we compared the at-sea growth of sporophytes cultivated on spinning spools at different depths (1 m, 3 m, 5 m) and seasons (timing of out-planting). Finally, we compared the at-se...

Global seaweed aquaculture production has more than tripled since 2002 and is dominated by Asian countries with farming operations that typically occur in relatively wave‐protected, nearshore areas. To meet future demand, production must move to “non‐traditional” regions and into less contested waters offshore. However, the technological complexities and uncertainties in the performance of seaweed cultivated in high‐energy off...

Lessonia (order Laminariales) is a kelp genus restricted to the temperate southern hemisphere, where species form dense forests from the low intertidal to 25 m depth at wave exposed sites. Lessonia spp. are among the most harvested kelps globally due to their importance in providing raw materials for food, cosmetics, bioactive and biomedical industries. Over-harvesting of natural beds can negatively affect Lessonia populations...

The cultivation of kelp typically involves two stages, where an indoor hatchery phase preceedes the grow-out phase at-sea. The in situ adhesion of microscopic propagules onto specifically designed substrates using binders has been proposed as an alternative to conventional hatchery methods where juvenile seaweeds are cultured on seeded twine, aimed at saving resources while increasing productivity as it obviates the hatchery p...

The biodiversity benefits of kelp aquaculture and afforestation are increasingly acclaimed as the industry continues to grow and develop globally, however, whether farmed kelp can provide this ecosystem service remains unclear. Using peer-reviewed literature, we evaluated whether kelp farms provide biodiversity benefits, and identified only 23 studies that discussed the effects of kelp aquaculture on biodiversity, half of whic...

Seaweed aquaculture is receiving increasing attention for food and non-food applications in Europe, where it is still an emerging industry. The cultivation of seaweeds in the sea is attractive as it does not compete with agricultural crops for land and freshwater, whilst generating high yearly biomass yield. The selection of suitable cultivation sites in coastal waters is essential for the sustainable establishment and further...