Diverse experts. Common goals.
The Seaweed Research Group is made up of more than 30 academics, students and technical staff, and is unique in its cross-disciplinary approach to seaweed research.
Our leading experts help communities, government and business identify opportunities to develop and cultivate seaweed as a resource that is good for the economy, the environment and communities everywhere.
We integrate diverse perspectives into our work from science, technology, health, business, creative industries and social science for seaweed-based solutions.
Why seaweed?
Seaweed is perhaps not the most glamorous of marine creatures, but it is certainly among the most important.
Sustaining ecosystems
In the sea, seaweeds form vast forests, which, just like forests on the land, underpin entire marine ecosystems by providing food and shelter to thousands of species of fish and invertebrates. Seaweed forests also make substantial contributions to global biogeochemical cycles. For example, as primary producers, through photosynthesis, they absorb CO2 and produce oxygen.
Economic benefits
Economically, seaweed is the largest aquaculture crop in the world with more than 25 million tonnes of seaweed produced per annum, which is steadily increasing at a rate of 8 percent per year and represents an aquaculture industry worth more than $US7 billion.
Societal and health impacts
Seaweed also has enormous social value, benefiting people's health, wellbeing and livelihoods. The versatility of seaweed, and diversity of its uses, is why a multi-faceted program is so important to the Seaweed Research Group.
In addition to seaweed being an important food source for a growing global population, there is also massive scope to increase the commercial side of the industry in order to create positive societal change at a grand scale.
Watch
Seaweed for healthy waterways
Members of our Seaweed Research Group, in partnership with Urban Utilities, are testing ways to offset nutrients and support healthy waterways in the Moreton Bay region. By using Moreton Bay Rock Oyster’s existing structures, we found farming certain types of seaweed is effective at improving water quality and can also support oyster crops while allowing farmers to diversify their activities.
Methane reducing seaweed
We are trying to find a way to produce a particular species of seaweed on a scale that would allow it to be added to the world's livestock feed. Why? To potentially contribute significantly to a reduction in the agricultural industry's global greenhouse gas emissions.
Seaweed to improve fish immunity
Our researchers, Valentin Thépot and Nick Paul, have been conducting trials at the Bribie Island Research Centre to see how seaweed can improve the immune system of fish.
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Contact
Email: seaweedresearch@usc.edu.au