26 sustainable seaweed harvest management erickask

7/29/2019 26 Sustainable Seaweed Harvest Management ErickAsk

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Sustainable

Seaweed Harvest Management

Erick Ask

FMC BioPolymer


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About FMC

Diversified Chemical Company.

Traded on NYSE, ticker symbol FMC

Ag Chem, Industrial, Specialty Chemicals.

#1 in carrageenan and alginate.

Based in Philadelphia


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3Red seaweed resourceBrown seaweed resource


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Commercial Algae and Uses

Hydrocolloids

Fertilizer/Plant

Food Human Food

Nutraceuticals

Spa/Beauty

Medicinal uses

BioFuel?

M. Indergaard (1983). The aquatic resource. I. The wild

marine plants: a global bioresource. In Cote, W. A.

Biomass utilization. Vol. Plenum Publishing Corporation,

137-168

From www.seaweed.ie


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Commercial Algae and Uses

Seaweed Industry in theCaribbean

CANARI

Irish Moss drink

Seaweed Industry in theCaribbean

Potential markets?

Spa/beauty product for

tourisms industry (cruiseships).

Seaweed (Gracilaria or

Eucheuma isiforme) for salad

in Asian fusion restaurants in

U.S.

Live Rock


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Define Sustainable Harvest

Reproduction and biomass assure futuresupply

Ecosystem Beds continue to fulfill their

role of habitat, food, competition evenwith harvest.

Economic cost and quality

Employment how many jobs? how muchincome?


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Case StudyNorwegian Laminaria hyperborea

Started in 1960s

Company initiated plan.

Based on understanding biology, ecology,

substrate and ecosystem

Pronova (now FMC BioPolymer) is the only

harvester.

5 year cycle so 5 zones.


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Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Vormedal


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Case StudyNorwegian Laminaria hyperborea

Government approved management planin 2002.

Must stay engaged with politicians and

environment/fisheries agencies.


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Case StudyChilean Sarcothalia crispata

When started, in 1970s, based oncollecting beach material.

Mature plants, completed life cycle,

harvested by wave action. Carrageenan yield and gel

strength/viscosity were very attractive.


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Case StudyChilean Sarcothalia crispata

Increased demand led to diver harvestingin 1990s and more buyers.

Removing younger plants and substrate.

Lower carrageenan yield and extractquality.

Lower populations?

Poor post harvest handling.

Chile trying community based management

plan.


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C St d


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Case StudyAustralian Durvillaea potatorum

Kelp Industries Ltd. is

only buyer.

Harvested as storm toss

on beach.

Sustainable since 1976.


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Summary of Case Studies

One buyer/harvester with active harvesting(Norway).

Many buyers/harvesters with active

harvesting (Chile). One buyer/harvester with passive

harvesting (Australia).


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Lessons from Fisheries Management

One buyer/harvester and passiveharvesting are easily sustainable.

Numerous buyers/harvesters with active

harvesting needs good manageemnt andenforcement. How?


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Lessons from Fisheries Management

Concessions? Education?

Buyer based

management (diverprotocol, fishing

season)?

Co-Management?

Hatchery seeded bedsand leasing

production areas.

Quota? Community based

management?

Permits? Shares?

Purchase right to

harvest?


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Conclusion

Ownership = responsibility

No shortcuts

Corruption attitude leads to shortcuts which ultimately

destroy populations and ecosystems.

Approach can depend on level of quality governance,

cultural attitudes, financial resources

With limited Government resources, probably best tobe self policed within biological constraints.


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Conclusions

Learn from other natural resourcemanagement plans not just seaweed.

Each situation is unique due to biology,

culture of residents, governmentresources

Need communication and work in

progress attitude. No one will get all theywant and not every initiative will work. But

nothing ventured, nothing gained.


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26 sustainable seaweed harvest management erickask

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