KELPPRO Kelp industrial production: Potential impacts on coastal ecosystems

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1 KELPPRO Kelp industrial production: Potential impacts on coastal ecosystems Industriell taredyrking: Potensielle effekter på naturlige økosystemer Av Kasper Hancke*, Ole Jacob Broch, Trine Bekkby, Yngvar Olsen, Reinhold Fieler, Sanna Matsson, Hege Gundersen og Hartvig Christie HAVBRUK april 2018, Oslo Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) Images by SES, NIVA and Tango Seaweed

2 KELPPRO Kelp industrial production: Potential impacts on coastal ecosystems Project lead: Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA, Kasper Hancke) Scientific partners: SINTEF, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Akvaplan-NIVA, Institute of Marine Research (HI), University of Southern Denmark (SDU) Industrial partners: Seaweed Energy Solutions (SES), Hortimare Duration: (4 years) Budget: 8.5 MNOK in total Kasper Hancke et al

3 Why spend time on environmental impacts? Source: SES presentation 2016 Kasper Hancke

4 Why spend time on environmental impacts? Source: SES presentation 2016 Visit Norway Kasper Hancke

5 Potensialet for vekst i dyrkning av makroalger anses som betydelig, med anvendelser som mat, fôr, næringsstoffer, kjemikalier og energi. Regjeringen er opptatt av at vi skal få til en vekst i oppdrettsnæringen som spiller på lag med naturen. Det er bare slik vi kan opprettholde en fremtidsrettet næring. Regerings havstrategi Februar 2017 Kasper Hancke

6 Marked potential The macro algae industry is expected to increase from NOK 1.2 mrd i 2010 to NOK 40 mrd i 2050 (SINTEF, NTNU et al. - Verdiskapning basert på produktive hav i 2050). Kasper Hancke

7 Kelp industrial production: Potential impacts on coastal ecosystems Aim: Provide an integrated assessment of positive and negative impacts of industrialscaled kelp farming on the marine ecosystem of coastal Norway Three main questions: 1) Will large scale kelp farming impact the coastal ecosystems as open water and sea floor habitats and functioning? 2) Will farmed kelp detritus provide valuable bioresources or pose a threat to natural coastal ecosystems? 3) Will kelp farming facilities provide ecosystem functioning as artificial forest habitats? Images by SES and Tango Seaweed Kasper Hancke et al

8 Potential environmental impacts of extensive seaweed cultivation Positive impacts are Nutrient uptake, reducing marine eutrophication CO2 uptake, reducing ocean acidification Increased primary production Promote elevated biodiversity Negative impacts are Depletion of limited nutrients Depositing of large quantities of kelp biomass on the seafloor, leading to poor environmental conditions, oxygen deficiency, and change in natural biodiversity Kasper Hancke et al

9 Effects on open water ecosystems Reduce light availability for natural populations of phytoplankton Effects on the foodweb efficiency and production Takeup of nutrients Provides as eutrophication mitigation, or limits recourses for the foodweb, and commercial harvest The balance determines the Carrying Capacity Takeup of CO 2 Provides climate mitigation actions, if carbon is removed from the biosphere Provide refuges for juvenile fauna Increase habitats for wanted and unwanted species Increase spread of diseases? Reduce/alter water currents and mixing Kasper Hancke et al

10 Effects on seafloor ecosystems Reduce light availability for seafloor macroalgae Effects on the foodweb efficiency and production Depositing organic matter (lost kelp) detritus Provide a food source for staving ecosystems, or Lead to poor environmental conditions and oxygen deficiency The balance determines the tipping point between food source or ecosystem threat Change in biodiversity and function Depositing of carbon (CO 2 removal) Provides climate mitigation actions, if carbon is permanently buried in the seafloor Kasper Hancke et al

11 Modelled Carbon and nitrogen uptake KELPPRO will model, measure and calculate C, N and P uptake, export and incorporation to estimate environmental trade-offs of kelp farming Kasper Hancke et al

12 Modelled Carbon and nitrogen uptake ~30% of produced biomass of kelp is exported to the environment (just recent measured data from a kelp farm in Tromsø, ApN) Kasper Hancke et al

13 Conclusion Industrial kelp farming will inevitably impact local and regional ecosystems positively and negatively Today, we lack research data to estimate possible environmental impacts in a responsible matter The first research project on environmental impacts has been launched and is ongoing, KELPPRO Take home message: Knowledge-based operation and research-based monitoring will ensure a viable business for the future NIVA research for a sustainable future Photograph: A Chapman, Tango Seaweed Kasper Hancke

14 Thank you Any questions? New report out: April 2018 And a website target for kelp farmers and managers: NIVA research for a sustainable future Photograph: A Chapman, Tango Seaweed Kasper Hancke