Resource Science

The health of wild seaweed shapes our future.

Have you ever observed seaweed up close? It’s teeming with life. Fish, sea urchins, crabs, birds and numerous other animals use the seaweed as a source of nourishment, a feeding ground and a shelter. Having watched all these amazing living creatures for decades, growing and coexisting in an abundant and lush environment, we recognize what a gift these intertidal habitats are.

For that reason, we have and continue to rigorously monitor the influence our harvesting practices and operations have on seaweed and the broader ecosystem. Learn how our resource science team is making sure the future of this natural resource remains bright.

Biomass assessment and resource science

Effective preservation of any natural resource relies on comprehensive, up-to-date information. Using the world-leading technical resources at our disposal, Acadian Seaplants achieves a comprehensive understanding of the seaweed stock, its distribution and its overall health.

Across each of our harvesting regions worldwide, we conduct long-term monitoring of the stock and conduct research on the potential impact of the harvest on the habitat architecture and associated fauna. Using state-of-the-art technology, such as high-resolution satellite imagery and drone photography, we map the shoreline’s distribution of seaweed beds. Extensive ground truthing is also carried out to determine the biomass in each bed. All this information is finally fed into a GIS platform for an accurate and functional visualization of the information.

In all our harvesting jurisdictions we follow a precautionary approach to the harvest. We use an area-based management strategy and subdivide the coastline into small management units. Each management unit has its own harvest quota that is set using a harvest rate well below the annual rate of re-growth. Close interaction with government departments and agencies, and a strict adherence to their guidelines, ensures the sustainability of the seaweed resource in all our harvesting areas.

Habitat research & monitoring

Any organization that operates in coastal ecosystems has an important role to play in their preservation. Changes to ecosystem structures and functions can have rippling effects, so it’s important for our Marine Scientists to ensure the ongoing health and integrity of the ecosystems where we operate.
We monitor how changes in algal biomass or canopy structure impact invertebrates, fish and other marine fauna. When assessing the harvest’s potential impact, we often partner with local research institutions to evaluate and validate the minimal impact of the harvest on these organisms.

Teams in the field

To play our part in conservation, we have deployed our team of Marine Scientists in Canada, the US, Ireland, Scotland and other potential harvesting sites around the globe. It is their responsibility to manage these precious renewable resources, protecting various seaweed species and ecosystems for future generations.

Our Marine Scientists monitor seaweed on a regular basis, confirming their regrowth and health after each trimming and guiding our company’s plan for sustainable harvest activities. We sample the seaweed – no matter the conditions – to ensure that we are doing our part as environmental stewards.

At Acadian our science has a practical purpose.

See how all of our products are designed to create a more sustainable future.

We aim to make a difference in the world.

Learn more about the vision, people and communities making that happen.

How can Acadian Seaplants help you?

We can find out together.

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