Control of farmed Nereocystis luetkeana sporophyte density via novel seeding technology

Attempts at the commercial cultivation of bull kelp have yet to consistently produce a product that is similar to the wild-type, fronds are typically smaller/skinnier.

This project will test (1) whether seeding density of juvenile sporophytes (using an inoculation density of 100 spores /mL) or (2) the use of discrete seeding points along a grow line (rather than continuous seeding) encourages the production of larger bull kelp fronds. If successful, this work would lead to reduced pressure from the harvest of wild stocks.