CLASH: A novel, non-proprietary hatchery technology for seaweed production

Project Number

R/AQ-163

Project Date Range

2022-07 - 2025-06

Funding Agency

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

Focus Area(s)

Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, Education, Training and Public Information

A close-up picture of dulce algae on a white plate.

Photo: Monterey Bay Seaweeds

core-lit apparatus for seaweed hatcheries (CLASH)

Outside of a handful of small producers in California, Alaska and New England, the vast majority of seaweed used in the U.S. is imported from Asia, leaving us with an import-export deficit of more than $33 million. It's a product ripe for highly sustainable land-based farming but what’s missing are the hatchery facilities needed to launch a robust domestic seaweed industry.

A funding grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Sea Grant Office hopes to change that by creating a novel, non-proprietary hatchery technology that can be used in land-based facilities for seaweed production to help serve and expand the domestic market (project funding announcement: https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/news/california-sea-grant-receives-nearly-700000-develop-new-hatchery-technologies-seaweed-farming)

While dulse, red ogo and sea lettuce are the most popular seaweeds in the U.S., dozens of other species are suitable for growing and food, but two things are missing: the culturing technology and enough seaweed hatcheries.

Project partner Dr. Michael Graham, professor at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, and his colleagues have led the development of a prototype of a modular hatchery system that can be used to address this seaweed seed shortage. The new grant will provide Graham, California Sea Grant Extension Specialist Theresa Talley and their team of aquaculture scientists and industry members the ability to refine the design of the system, develop accompanying protocols, test the system in industry settings throughout the state and get the system into the hands of new growers.

An infographic depicting the kelp life cycle in the CLASH system.

Project goals & Objectives

To build new hatchery technologies specific to land-based seaweed production systems in order to develop new strains of seaweeds and expand seaweed markets.
Design, fabricate, and pilot test the efficacy of modular core-lit apparatus for seaweed hatcheries (CLASH) systems
Commercially test the CLASH system and create accompanying SOP's
Develop informational and instructional products, and disseminate to and engage with potential end-users through the California Sea Grant extension strategy.