Assessing Optimal Infrastructure and Seeding Approaches for Large-Scale Cultivation of Bull Kelp

Sea Quester Farms is dedicated to advancing commercially viable, food-grade bull kelp cultivation practices through field trials conducted at our farm site near Juneau, Alaska. Our research will assess two critical factors: the growth of bull kelp on enhanced arrays and the performance of different seeding techniques. Collaborating with farmers and representatives from Goldbelt, Spruce Root, Sustainable Southeast Partnership, Ecotrust, and CRTC, we aim to widely share the project’s findings. In its natural habitat, bull kelp attaches to rocks on the seafloor and grows in dispersed small clusters, unlike continuous blankets seen in suspended cultivation arrays using densely seeded lines. These traditional farming methods have proven challenging and costly for scaling up bull kelp production in Alaska. Our approach involves strategically spacing seeded segments along cultivation lines and utilizing seafloor-tethered array systems to more closely mimic bull kelp’s native growing conditions, thereby optimizing yield and economic viability. This initiative builds upon insights gained from our 2023 Joint Innovation Proposal, (“Evaluating Infrastructure and Seeding Methods for Scalable Bull Kelp Cultivation”), furthering innovations in producing food-grade, commercially viable bull kelp. Project partners will disseminate key findings from this study.

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