Ecosystem services

Developing seaweed cultivation at a global scale could substantially increase the amount of new and sustainable biomass to support food, feed, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and industrial processes. In addition to providing a versatile raw input for a variety of consumer and industrial products, seaweed cultivation does not require any land or freshwater to grow.

Seaweeds have been shown to remove large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, as well as reduce the concentration of excessive nutrients in coastal waters. Furthermore, the 3D structure created by a seaweed farm can form critically important habitat for marine life – to the extent to which seaweed farming enhances biodiversity.

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IMTA

The experts at SWD Connectors have experience with their own IMTA (Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture) farms that combine seaweed and salmon and/or blue mussel systems into a cohesive structure. Although IMTA carries significant opportunities for biomass production, the system is also notably more complex than systems where each aquaculture strategy is taken individually. Even so, SWD Connectors have the necessary experience to help launch this potentially transformative, circular method of producing biomass.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and LCA

In addition to personal experience, the SWD Connectors carry a network of experts in the field of EIA that can help individuals, institutions and agencies understand the sustainability aspects of their projects. By conducting EIA and LCA’s (Life Cycle Assessment), we can help identify the environmental footprint of your seaweed cultivation/process or products while protecting the surrounding environment, conserving natural resources and promoting sustainable economic development for the project.

Sustainability targets

By establishing a monitoring framework, we can assist in creating targets and methodologies for quantifying ecosystem services (e.g., nutrient, CO2 or blue carbon credits). The environmental impacts of seaweed cultivation are largely recognized as positive; nonetheless, every project requires specific and detailed evaluation in order to establish how its implementation or operation may affect the environment, natural resources and/or human health. As a result, a sustainability assessment needs to be done for every location and situation to ensure we optimize the ‘good for the world’ effects of seaweed production and its processing.

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