The Rise of Kelp Farming: A Deep Dive Into a Growing Aquaculture Industry

Kelp is popping up more and more in popular foods and personal care items. But what is kelp, exactly? And how is it farmed? Read on to get the facts on this plant-like, ocean-growing organism, from its ecological importance to its many uses. Plus, learn about a program in Alaska that’s working to bring kelp farming to local communities.

What Is Kelp?

Kelp is a subgroup of about 100 species of large brown algae seaweed that grow in cold, nutrient-rich waters. They grow naturally in the ocean and can also be farmed by people. Both wild and farmed kelp are an important source of wildlife habitat, providing shelter for fish, seals, sea otters, lobsters, sea snails and other marine life.

It is important to note that kelp – and, more broadly, algae – are not plants and do not have root systems. While kelp does utilize photosynthesis just like a plant, it also has some major differences. For instance, instead of roots, which help terrestrial plants absorb nutrients, kelp have claw-like structures called holdfasts, which help anchor them underwater.

What Is Kelp Used For?

In addition to providing vital habitat for a number of marine species, kelp is farmed for food and has been incorporated into items ranging from salad dressings to dairy products. It’s also used in cosmetics and personal care items like shampoo, facial cream, lotion and toothpaste; pharmaceuticals; fertilizers; pet food; and more. It is known for being a low-calorie, nutrient-rich superfood with a number of antioxidants and essential minerals. It can be eaten fresh, dried, cooked and even as part of a smoothie.

See more: What is Aquaculture?

Where Is Kelp Farmed?

Kelp is farmed in various coastal regions. In the U.S., you can find dozens of kelp farms in New England, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.

There are also environmental considerations when it comes to location. For Duke Delgado, hydroponics farm manager at Spruce Island Farm near the village of Ouzinkie, Alaska, part of the Kodiak Archipelago, one of the most important factors to consider when deciding on an exact location for a kelp farm is proximity to home.

“You don’t want to have to have a three-hour boat ride to your farm,” he says.

In his neck of the woods, picking a spot with good water flow that is somewhat sheltered from storms is also important, he adds.

“That’s probably the biggest thing because we get 80-mile-an-hour winds and 10-foot seas out there.”

Growing Interest in Kelp Farming

Currently, there is a surge in interest in kelp farming and kelp-derived products, signifying potential growth for this sector.

According to NOAA Fisheries, kelp farming is on the rise, with more farms popping up across New England, the Pacific Northwest and Alaska in recent years. Farmers in Alaska, for example, produced more than 112,000 pounds of sugar, ribbon and bull kelp in 2019, which represents a 200% increase over the state’s first commercial harvest in 2017.

See more: What Crops Are Grown in Alaska?

Project Spotlight: Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute

Lexa Meyer and her husband, Alf Pryor, are owners of Alaska Ocean Farms and technical trainers for the Kodiak Archipelago Leadership Institute (KALI), a community-based nonprofit organization in Kodiak, Alaska, that is helping to establish kelp farming in the region. The two designed a kelp farmer training program following what Meyer calls “a tremendous amount of interest” from local communities.

Delgado was one of their trainees and became the first Alaska-native village farmer, planting species like split kelp, dragon kelp and three-ribbed kelp, which have not been widely grown in Alaska. He’s assisting Meyer and Pryor in monitoring these kelps, which are also growing at one other farm in the region.

“We’re experimenting with those species and just trying to learn more about all of those,” Meyer says of the research, which is funded through the Alaska Mariculture Cluster, a $49M U.S. Economic Development Administration grant program that was awarded to the Southeast Conference to catalyze a viable and sustainable mariculture industry in Alaska that supports the production of shellfish and seaweed.

These kelps will be harvested in the summer of 2025 and investigated as part of another research study that will help determine whether any compounds in them could be integrated into food and cosmetic products.

Why Is Kelp Farming Important?

Kelp farms can help improve water quality by absorbing excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can lead to algal blooms. The kelp also absorbs carbon dioxide from the water, which helps to combat ocean acidification and mitigate global warming.

Plus, the kelp can provide an important habitat for animals like fish and invertebrates.

“With kelp farming, you get all kinds of fish that hide, and as they’re growing, it gives them a safe place to go,” explains Meyer, who is also a marine biologist.

Kelp farming is also more environmentally friendly than terrestrial farming she says, as it does not depend on potentially harmful fertilizers or need additional water for irrigation.

Meanwhile, kelp farming can also help sustain local communities in places like Kodiak.

“We see this as a strong, viable economic opportunity for coastal revitalization,” says KALI’s executive director Robbie Townsend Vennel, who has been supporting economic development in rural Alaska for over 30 years. “It’s community revitalization … It’s getting our Alutiiq people back on the water, a lifeway that sustained them for 7,000 years that was abruptly interfered with because of limited entry and individual fishing quota policies.”

Delgado adds that his village is “getting smaller and smaller all the time,” and he sees kelp farming as another opportunity to draw people back in.

“Our village is slowly dying, and I don’t want it to … we need more people back in the village,” he says.

What Are the Challenges of Kelp Farming?

Challenges vary by region, but some of the major hurdles include regulation issues and establishing processing infrastructure. For instance, Alaska’s Kodiak kelp farmers say permitting has been a major hurdle there.

Plus, “this is an emerging economy and we have no established markets,” Townsend Vennel says, adding that this isn’t necessarily a problem for other places like New England, where farmers may have markets within a few hours of them. “[Our] region has been working very hard on that,” she says.

The area also lacks important infrastructure to run warehouses, store equipment and process the kelp.

“Unfortunately, Kodiak and a lot of the coastal communities throughout Alaska do not have empty warehouses that are easy to rent,” Meyer says, adding that they have shipping challenges as well.