Seaweed Scene 2013

Readers of this blog will have seen some details of the recent work to transfer the technology of seaweed cultivation to shellfish growers in Maine, and to help the networking process for people and organizations excited about the opportunities for seaweed production in the region.  This project was funded by the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center, and truth be told, it's been one of the most fun, informative and rewarding projects I've worked on, in my 15 years with Maine Sea Grant.  Fright, dismay and wonder aside at being 15 years in the same job, I'm pretty proud of our work in this vein, and am looking forward to future developments. 

A full room at the Hutchinson Center for the Seaweed Scene 2013

It is clear that there is huge enthusiasm about seaweed.  Players like Ocean Approved and VitaminSea Seaweed have brought new energy to an industry that has its own long and interesting history, with groups like Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, Maine Seaweed, North American Kelp, Source Inc. and a few others.  This mix of new and established companies has fueled a vibrant discussion in recent years, and that excitement has spread to a wide group of other enthusiasts.

The Seaweed Scene sprang out of these observations as a way to bring people together - simply to get them in the same room, to have a chance to hear what's going on around the region, and really just to network.  With so much being new, the timing was good for encouraging the face-to-face time, and let the seeds sprout where they may. 

Charlie Yarish, Sarah Redmond, and Shep Erhardt

We held our first Seaweed Scene last year, and the SS '13 was the second in what we hope will be a continuing effort. About 115 people filled up the big meeting room at UMaine's Hutchinson Center in Belfast, and we had a full day program of research and activity updates, free time to talk, a needs-assessment session, and even a how-to session in the evening, taught by Paul Dobbins and Bill Flahive of Ocean Approved, and Dr. Charles Yarish of UConn - probably the guy most responsible for transferring seaweed cultivation expertise to people here in the Northeast and possibly the US.

As of this writing, Sarah Redmond, Beth Bisson and I are compiling presentations, notes and other information to be delivered to the Maine Sea Grant website, and you can expect more details to posted there in the near future:

http://www.seagrant.umaine.edu/seaweed/seaweed-scene-2013

...and don't let me forget to thank colleagues at ME SG for their help and expertise: Kathy Villarreal, Lynn Wardwell, and Ron Beard, who guided us so skillfully through the day. 

For now though, seaweed producers and others are taking some really important and exciting steps, and it sure has been fun to be a participant.  More to follow, no doubt, and perhaps even seaweed coming to a coastline near you.

Larch Hanson (Maine Seaweed) and David Myslabodski (Great Sea Vegetables) and probably 80 years experience between them. 

Isabelle Gendon-Lemieux (Merinov, Quebec CA), Emilie Gouhier (Univ. of Caen, France) and Carter Newell (Pemaquid Mussel Company) compare notes. 

Seth Barker and Sarah Redmond review their progress during the MAIC project and follow-ups - they have grown some wonderful-looking and delicious dulse over the past year.  Looking forward to more!

Charlie Yarish, together with Paul Dobbins and Bill Flahive (both from Ocean Approved) put on a great workshop on kelp production after the Seaweed Scene. Here they are demonstrating how to generate spores from reproductive kelp plants.  A manual on kelp farming is nearing completion and will be available soon.