Boothbay Sea and Science Center wrapped up its 6th year of Exploring the Science of Seaweed Farming in-school program that engages schools in 4 Maine counties to grow, plant and ultimately harvest Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima) and Aleria (Alaria esculante). This hands-on experiential program helps students gain a better understanding of Maine’s seaweed farming industry and the conditions under which macro-algae grows. This school year twelve teachers and their students in 11 schools participated in the project.
Students record their observations and activities in their seaweed log and an end of project report documents learning. Seaweed seedlings introduced to classroom tanks in early November were collected in mid-December and planted on vertical droplines on the Damariscotta River in East Boothbay and at Spartan Sea Farms in Casco Bay. The seaweed harvest took place in late April and early May. Teachers and schools participating in the Exploring the Science of Seaweed Farming program include Michelle Miclette (grade 6: Boothbay Region Elementary School), Julie Browne (grades 5/6: Southport Central School), Nicole Ennis (grade 5: Edgecomb Eddy School), Jason Bigonia (grade 5: South Bristol School), Kelly Robbins (grade 7/8: Medomak Middle School), Janna Civittolo (grade 10: Lincoln Academy), Deb Antl (grade 7: Philip W. Sugg Middle School), Jennifer Winkler (grade 5: Pownal Elementary School), Alice Shaw (grade 7: King Middle School), Robin Tiller (grade 8: Greely Middle School), Selena Tardiff (grade 7: Greenville consolidated School), Laurie Brown (grade 6: Edgecomb Eddy School).
Science equipment and all seaweed farming equipment, bought from grants awarded to BSSC, is provided to the schools. Many thanks to Ken Sparta, Spartan Sea Farms for planting our seaweed on his farm and Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences that donated the filtered seawater and deionized water for their support of these projects.
