Exploring the Science of Seaweed Farming 2022

The Boothbay Sea and Science Center’s “Exploring the Science of Seaweed Farming” program is off to a wonderful start. This school year we are studying the conditions under which Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) and Alaria Kelp grow with students in 10 middle schools, 1 homeschool, and with a student at Medomak High School who is studying the impact of water temperature on growth.   Also we are thrilled to report that our reach has extended to Greenville Consolidated School, located in the Moosehead Lake Region.  We’ve expanded our “field” with seaweed planted on Spartan Sea Farms (Casco Bay) and Maine Sea Farms (Clark Cove/Damariscotta River). This “expansion” affords us the opportunity to also study the impact of location on growth. Next up … our harvest in late April!

Below, please find a report on our 2022 program to date.

Specific Achievements

Embracing the challenges facing this project due to the continued impact of this relentless pandemic, we are thrilled to report that this program is in progress!

1. Schools Participating:

  • Southport Central (yr. 5)
  • Boothbay Region Elementary (yr. 5)
  • Edgecomb Eddy (yr. 5 ½)
  • South Bristol (yr. 2)
  • Medomak Middle (yr. 2)
  • Freeport Middle (yr. 2)
  • Lisbon Middle (yr. 2)
  • Greely Middle (yr. 1)
  • Lincoln Academy (yr. 1)
  • Bergstrom Homeschool (yr. 1)
  • Greenville Consolidated (yr. 1)
  • Medomak High (1/2022)

2. Successes:

  • 8-tanks: Instant Ocean
  • 4-tanks: filtered seawater
  • 9-drop lines: Alaria Kelp
  • 14-drop lines: Sugar Kelp
  • Seedlings in tanks: 11/1 – 12/17
  • Seedling lines planted at:
    • Fresh Sea Farms (Damariscotta River)
    • Spartan Sea Farms (Casco Bay)
    • BSSC (Damariscotta River)

We are thrilled to report that:

We’ve extended our reach to Greenville, Maine. Science teacher and students are exploring the conditions under which seaweed grows, comparing and contrasting lake and ocean water, and identifying the vegetation and critters that make their homes in these waters.

We’re excited about engaging 2 seaweed farmers:

We’ve planted, on each of their farms, seaweed from in-school tanks. Seaweed is now growing on the east and west side of the Damariscotta River and off-shore Freeport in Casco Bay. Adds the “impact of location on the growth of seaweed” as a variable in our research!

We’re in Medomak High School:

A sophomore student studying “impact of water temperature” on the growth of sugar kelp.  Set up: four tanks, water temperature ranges 42 F to 70 F, and sugar kelp seedlings. She’ll report findings in early April.

You can learn more about our Science of Seaweed Farming on our program page.