Modelling spatial variability of cultivated Saccharina latissima in a Dutch coastal bay shows benefits of co-cultivation with shellfish

Abstract

Cultivation of Saccharina latissima, a brown macroalga, is fast developing in Europe and North America for the sustainable production of food and biorefinery materials and important ecosystem services. Prior studies have demonstrated large spatial variability in the yield and chemical composition of the cultivated S. latissima, even within a small coastal bay. Using a validated hydrodynamic-biogeochemical-kelp model, this study examined main drivers of the spatial variability in S. latissima growth dynamics in 40 hypothetical farms throughout a Dutch coastal bay, the Eastern Scheldt. Results indicate that temperature plays a primary role in driving the spatial variability. For example, S. latissima yield in the deeper and better flushed western part is more than double that in the eastern part, mainly due to its 2–3°C warmer seawater in winter. It is also found that S. latissima benefits from co-cultivation with shellfish, since nutrients excreted by shellfish replenish its nitrogen reserve, which fuels a relatively high growth rate in the nitrogen-depleted late spring. The model assessment offers insight into optimal potential locations of S. latissima farms in the Eastern Scheldt. Applicability of our modelling approach to other coastal ecosystems and possible further improvements for assisting in seaweed farming practice are discussed.

The sugar kelp Saccharina latissima II: Recent Advances in farming and applications

“…Promising results have also been seen when cultivating S. latissima with other species than salmon, e.g., mussels and oysters (Jiang et al 2022b;Lavaud et al 2023). Compared to natural populations, S. latissima from mussel-integrated culture systems was found to have almost twice as much protein content, giving greater added value to the species, both as potential food and feed (Freitas et al 2016).…”

Home sweet home: Comparison of epibiont assemblages associated with cultivated and wild sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima), co-cultivated blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and farm infrastructure

“…Co-cultivation or integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) of species that rely on similar infrastructure and management is increasing in popularity in Europe (Alexander et al 2015; Hughes and Black 2016; Kleitou, Kletou, and David 2018). Growing low-trophic species, such as seaweed and bivalves together, where neither culture requires additional food, fertilisers or fresh water to grow, uses space more e ciently in coastal waters and may also have mutual bene ts to both cultures, such as bio ltration and improving water quality and clarity, enhancing primary production, and reducing the settlement of nuisance biofouling species (Hargrave et al 2021(Hargrave et al , 2022Holdt and Edwards 2014;Jiang et al 2022). The proposed environmental bene ts of seaweed farming are largely similar to those of bivalve shell sh production (Campbell et al 2019; Holdt and Edwards 2014; Hughes and Black 2016); however, shell sh farms have received more study.…”

Home sweet home: Comparison of epibiont assemblages associated with cultivated and wild sugar kelp (Saccharina latissima), co-cultivated blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and farm infrastructure

“…Co-cultivation or integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) of species that rely on similar infrastructure and management is increasing in popularity in Europe (Alexander et al 2015;Hughes and Black 2016;Kleitou et al 2018). Growing low-trophic species, such as seaweed and bivalves together, where neither culture requires additional food, fertilisers or fresh water to grow, uses space more efficiently in coastal waters and may also have mutual benefits to both cultures, such as biofiltration and improving water quality and clarity, enhancing primary production, and reducing the settlement of nuisance biofouling species (Holdt and Edwards 2014;Hargrave et al 2021Hargrave et al , 2022Jiang et al 2022). The proposed environmental benefits of seaweed farming are largely similar to those of bivalve shellfish production (Holdt and Edwards 2014;Hughes and Black 2016;Campbell et al 2019), however, shellfish farms have received more study.…”