Bull Kelp

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/188332087

This lonely bull kelp caught my eye. Unfortunately, this particular bull kelp was looking a bit sad and floating all alone. I'm always amazed to come upon a grouping of bull kelp because they are seemingly never ending. They're usually in a large clump, with flowing tails of seaweed extending from their tips and wavering with the flow of the water. Bull kelp has traditionally been harvested by Alaska Natives and is currently at the forefront of a booming seaweed economy. As climate change continues to impact fisheries, seaweed farming and harvesting enter the picture as a sustainable and nutritious option. The Washington Post reported that, “'It’s one of the first regenerative industries based on restoration, conservation and mitigation, rather than extraction of finite resources,” said Lankard, who is Eyak Athabaskan"'(Eilperin). It's refreshing to learn how sustainable seaweed farming can be. I became intrigued about bull kelp when I saw Barnacle Foods products in the grocery store. The Juneau-based company creates a variety of sauces, salsa, and fun condiments made with seaweed and bull kelp; all of which receive my stamp of approval. The seaweed farming industry has massive potential, but for Alaska Natives, there's a persisting problem. Alaska Natives receive no preference in maritime permitting despite their history of subsistence practices. Eilperin writes, "Anyone involved in commercial fishing or a large operator, Lankard argued, has an automatic advantage"(Eilperin). Seaweed farming is a double-edged sword between a soon-to-be booming sea farming economy and a fight for Alaska Native rights.

Eilperin, Juliet. “Alaska’s Newest Gold Rush: Seaweed.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 3 Aug. 2023, www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/interactive/2023/alaska-kelp-farming/. Accessed 19 Oct. 2023.

Posted on October 21, 2023 03:12 AM by jstalker5