Creating a sustainable commercial harvest of Laminaria hyperborea, in Norway

Abstract

The mechanized harvesting of Laminaria hyperborea in Norway began nearly 50 years ago. Based on a clear understanding of the ecology and life cycle of L. hyperborea as well as the ecosystem, a sustainable management program for the harvest was created with a 5-year cycle and rotating zones in fields as the foundation of the plan. This has allowed a steady annual harvest of 130,000-180,000 t wet weight, depending on market demand. In the last decade, the Norwegian government, working with industry and other stakeholders, has produced more refined policies/documents governing the harvest. This macroalgal harvest plan provides an excellent example for resource managers in other parts of the world laboring to create sustainable harvest management plans.

Production and fate of kelp detritus

“…Kelp is primarily used for human consumption (Rothman et al 2006, Peteiro & Freire 2011, alginic acid extraction (Vasquez 2008, Vea & Ask 2011, and as feed for cultured abalone (Troell et al 2006, Macchiavello et al 2010. Canopy harvesting has increased dramatically in recent decades (Rothman et al 2006, Vasquez 2008, Thompson et al 2010, Vea & Ask 2011. Kelp is currently harvested in many countries worldwide (including the USA, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Taiwan, Ireland, Norway, the UK, and Iceland) and markets continue to expand (Adams et al 2009(Adams et al , 2011.…”

“…Kelp is currently harvested in many countries worldwide (including the USA, Canada, Mexico, South Africa, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China, Taiwan, Ireland, Norway, the UK, and Iceland) and markets continue to expand (Adams et al 2009(Adams et al , 2011. Historically, kelp harvesting involved collection of beach-cast material; however, since the 1960s this has been replaced by direct harvesting in response to increasing demand (Vasquez 2008, Vea & Ask 2011. With growing concern that wild populations of kelp cannot sustain harvesting at the current rate, the harvest potential of currently unexploited areas, such as the Arctic, is being investigated (Sharp et al 2008) and suspended culture of kelps has been developed in some bays and offshore areas (Troell et al 2006, Macchiavello et al 2010, Peteiro & Freire 2011, Radiarta et al 2011.…”

Regrowth and biofouling in two species of cultivated kelp in the Shetland Islands, UK

“…In northern Japan, thinning of cultivated U. pinnatifida improved yields of highquality sporophytes before the start of the traditional harvest season, and these sporophytes fetch higher prices due to their taste and texture (Gao et al 2014). In Norway, mechanical harvesting of Laminaria hyperborea (Gunnerus) Foslie is managed by allowing 5 years between harvests in each area; the harvesting method only removes the large canopy plants and the kelp forest recovers as sub-canopy recruits grow to form the new canopy (Christie et al 1998;Vea and Ask 2011).…”

Biodiversity and ecosystem services in Nordic coastal ecosystems

“…Currently, there is also growing interest in kelp for human consumption (Chapman et al, 2015). As far north as Helgeland, about 200,000 tons of kelp is harvested for alginate extraction (Vea & Ask, 2011) with a first-hand value of more than EUR three million. As the kelp forest returns to these shores (Box 11), there is increasing interest in expanding the harvesting area northward, also into the Helgeland region.…”