1 Sustainable Seaweed Harvest Management Erick Ask FMC BioPolymer

2 About FMC Diversified Chemical Company. Traded on NYSE, ticker symbol FMC Ag Chem, Industrial, Specialty Chemicals. #1 in carrageenan and alginate. Based in Philadelphia

3 Red seaweed resource Brown seaweed resource

4 Commercial Algae and Uses Hydrocolloids Fertilizer/Plant Food Human Food Nutraceuticals Spa/Beauty Medicinal uses BioFuel? M. Indergaard (1983). The aquatic resource. I. The wild marine plants: a global bioresource. In Cote, W. A. Biomass utilization. Vol. Plenum Publishing Corporation, From

5 Commercial Algae and Uses Seaweed Industry in the Caribbean CANARI –Irish Moss drink Seaweed Industry in the Caribbean Potential markets? –Spa/beauty product for tourisms industry (cruise ships). –Seaweed (Gracilaria or Eucheuma isiforme) for salad in Asian fusion restaurants in U.S. –Live Rock

6 Define Sustainable Harvest Reproduction and biomass – assure future supply Ecosystem – Beds continue to fulfill their role of habitat, food, competition… even with harvest. Economic – cost and quality Employment – how many jobs? how much income?

7 Case Study – Norwegian Laminaria hyperborea Started in 1960’s Company initiated plan. Based on understanding biology, ecology, substrate and ecosystem… Pronova (now FMC BioPolymer) is the only harvester. 5 year cycle so 5 zones.

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9 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Vormedal

10 Case Study – Norwegian Laminaria hyperborea Government approved management plan in Must stay engaged with politicians and environment/fisheries agencies.

11 Case Study – Chilean Sarcothalia crispata When started, in 1970’s, based on collecting beach material. Mature plants, completed life cycle, harvested by wave action. Carrageenan yield and gel strength/viscosity were very attractive.

12 Case Study – Chilean Sarcothalia crispata Increased demand led to diver harvesting in 1990’s and more buyers. Removing younger plants and substrate. Lower carrageenan yield and extract quality. Lower populations? Poor post harvest handling. Chile trying community based management plan.

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19 Case Study Australian Durvillaea potatorum Kelp Industries Ltd. is only buyer. Harvested as storm toss on beach. Sustainable since 1976.

20 Summary of Case Studies One buyer/harvester with active harvesting (Norway). Many buyers/harvesters with active harvesting (Chile). One buyer/harvester with passive harvesting (Australia).

21 Lessons from Fisheries Management One buyer/harvester and passive harvesting are easily sustainable. Numerous buyers/harvesters with active harvesting needs good manageemnt and enforcement. How?

22 Lessons from Fisheries Management Concessions? Education? Buyer based management (diver protocol, fishing season)? Co-Management? Hatchery seeded beds and leasing production areas. Quota? Community based management? Permits? Shares? Purchase right to harvest?

23Conclusion Ownership = responsibility No shortcuts Corruption attitude leads to shortcuts which ultimately destroy populations and ecosystems. Approach can depend on level of quality governance, cultural attitudes, financial resources… With limited Government resources, probably best to be self policed within biological constraints.

24Conclusions Learn from other natural resource management plans… not just seaweed. Each situation is unique due to biology, culture of residents, government resources… Need communication and “work in progress” attitude. No one will get all they want and not every initiative will work. But “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

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