Week 6: How to Start a Kelp Farm: Guided Course & Community
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Join this discussion if you are part of the How to Start a Kelp Farm Guided Course and Community. (To learn with us, register here.)
As we convene for our final session, we’d love to hear from you as you reflect on how to start your kelp farm. Some questions for reflection:- Have you decided if ocean farming is for you? Why or Why not?
- Could you see yourself in a different role within the industry? If so, which?
- What’s the biggest barrier you face moving forward?
- What lingering questions do you have that weren’t answered in this course?
- As you start your ocean farming journey – what asks do you have of this community and what do you intend to give back?
Feel free to share any other thoughts or reflections about this week’s content or the course as a whole. (See the full course program.)
We’d love to know how you’re feeling after the past 6 weeks of learning how to become an ocean farmer! To help us improve the experience for future farmers, we invite you to share your feedback in our Course Survey.
Stay in touch!
-Lindsay
Thank you, Lindsay, guest presenters, and Greenwave for a terrific course. I am five years into scallop farming in Casco Bay, Maine, and very interested in expanding to include kelp. We farm on four Maine Limited Purpose Aquaculture licenses (LPA's). LPA's were mentioned in the week five lessons as being relatively easy to acquire, and a good way to get started with kelp. The small scale of LPA's (400 square feet each) present challenges, such as acquiring very small quantities of seed, and the high ratio of harvesting permit fees to low harvest. We farm our scallops using a small open lobster skiff that is not be suitable for winter use. My hope is to engage some lobster harvester friends with larger boats to partner up on a trial LPA-sized kelp farm.
Two quick comments:
I want to emphasize the importance of reaching out to stake holders when siting a farm. Educate shorefront owners about what you hope to do with your farm. In Maine, shorefront owners (largely summer residents) have traditionally embraced the lobster harvesting that goes on in their front yards. Help them see your farm as a new part of that maritime heritage. Also, consult with the local harvesters about where to sight your farm. Work with them.
In the gear section of the course there was a mention of the possibility of acquiring used gear. If you do this, be very mindful of biosecurity. There are protocols for cleaning used gear to prevent the introduction of invasive organisms.
Thank you!
Ralph Keyes, Brunswick, ME
Really loved the course, guys!!
I had so many questions that you answered fully in the course. I'm still in the research phase, but you've definitely inspired me!
I'm dying to get started on whatever other courses you'll provide.
-Mike Wilson- Vancouver BC, Canada.
@lindsay_olsen I am already involved in ocean farming where our gear is setup, the hatchery process commenced a few months ago and have trialed out-planting.
The biggest barrier for our team at the moment is seeing that growth of the juvenile sporophytes. So, from those who have successfully grown kelp, which tweaks would you recommend in order to see a progression from juveniles to adult kelp?
From all the previous discussions, I intend to give back in terms of adjustments which we have applied in our endevours which subsequently resulted in successful kelp farming.
@lindsay_olsen Hello all. My apologies for being 'away' of inactive as I have been very ill for over a week. I missed last week's session but will be there today but a bit late. As mentioned early on in the course, ocean farming is not feasible for me.....mainly due to not living near an ocean or bay, however, I do plan to do some hobby work with one tank or two trying to grow kelp that way. I would not mind volunteering in some way with Greenwave or otherwise. I am not sure what that looks like right now but am open to discussion. I am truly catching up right now so have not fully processed or thought through the possibilities. I have enjoyed this course and getting to know everyone and the process.
Very grateful, Pat N - Texas
@lindsay_olsen Really an outstanding experience from start to finish. One of my key interests is in continuing to support and grow the GreenWave community of passion into a community of practice, as Bren put it. This catalytic work is really so critical to inspiring and equipping future ocean farmers. I’ve also posted into the bulletin board topic a willingness to help any kelp farmers, hatcheries or ocean farming entrepreneurs in the northeast in exchange for getting some hands on experience.
Finally, I’m interested in trying to get additional states like NJ and DE to get engaged with this effort, perhaps starting with some pilot or test farms.
Thanks again for the brilliant work putting this first class together. The one suggestion or question that lingers is whether GreenWave can further guide, mentor or coach those who are ready to jump into the kelp game.