Our Mission

The Maine Seaweed Council strives to protect the ecosystems of Maine’s marine algae and adhere to sustainable cultivation and harvest practices, promote the use of Maine seaweeds, educate the public, regulators, and elected officials, and provide a collaborative forum for its members.

UMaine study finds rockweed quickly recovers after harvest

Abstract from the Johnston et al. 2023 study published in the Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology:

“As the value of ecosystem-based management (EBM) approaches is increasingly recognized in marine ecosystems, it is critical that the impacts of resource harvest are assessed at various spatial scales. This is particularly true for habitat-forming resources, such as wild seaweeds, that act as foundation species by physically structuring ecosystems. The impacts of spatially heterogeneous harvest may change with scale, and have different management implications based on the ecosystem process or organism under consideration. Ascophyllum nodosum (hereafter rockweed) is a canopy-forming fucoid seaweed endemic to rocky coastlines in the North Atlantic Ocean that has been harvested for centuries. We conducted a Before-After Control-Impact study of commercial rockweed harvest at 38 sites across the coast of Maine (USA) from 2018 to 2020 in an effort to understand impact and one-year recovery of two rockweed bed structural characteristics, height and biomass, at a scale similar to a single harvest event. Our results indicate that rockweed harvest is spatially heterogeneous at the scale of the rockweed bed, and as a result, the effect sizes of harvest at this scale are smaller than those reported in previous studies that assessed smaller spatial scales. Mean rockweed biomass recovered to pre-harvest values after one year of recovery, but mean rockweed height remained lower at impacted sites. While post-harvest recovery was generally high in our study, sites that experienced higher intensities of harvest were less likely to fully recover height or biomass one year post-harvest. Our findings provide resource managers with a bed-scale perspective that can inform EBM approaches, particularly for population-level management of harvested resources and impacts of harvest on highly mobile organisms—such as birds and fish—that interact with these ecosystems at larger spatial scales.s rockweed harvest has more than tripled in 20 years, and a new study from the University of Maine shows that the seaweed regains its biomass quickly after harvest”.

See our Science Section for more on this extensive study.

“Learn about Maine’s Long and Important Relationship with Seaweed”

Video About Maine’s Seaweed Industry
Film by Tom Bell Media:

“Seaweed Harvesters on the Rocks”

 

Project ASCO / Schoodic Institute

The public is invited to help with rockweed science
Join Schoodic Institute scientists in the intertidal zone to collect data about rockweed while exploring the beauty of the rocky coast between the tides. Rockweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) is the dominant algae or seaweed along most of Maine’s rocky shoreline and provides habitat for animals living in and visiting this dynamic ecosystem.

The goal of Project ASCO (Assessing Seaweed via Community Observations) is to get interested participants out into the intertidal zone to help answer the question,” How much rockweed is there?” Coastal property owners, land trusts and their members, and others with access to the shoreline are invited to attend a field training session to learn how to collect rockweed data that will be analyzed and shared by scientists at Schoodic Institute to inform resource management.

The dates and locations of training sessions in 2024 to be announced

The in-person training sessions will be spent outdoors in the intertidal zone. No prior knowledge is required; participants will be provided with the supplies and training needed to safely and effectively collect rockweed data. “We are looking forward to working with other people who love the coast and the intertidal to collect high quality and essential data,” said Hannah Webber, Marine Ecology Director at Schoodic Institute. Along with rockweed, this project allows for learning more about other seaweeds, periwinkles, mussels, crabs, birds, and the occasional seal or whale.

There is no cost to attend but registration is required. 

Visit Schoodic Institute’s website for more information and to register. 

Thank you to Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, Blue Hill Heritage Trust, Downeast Coastal Conservancy, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, Crabtree Neck Land Trust, Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, Herring Gut Coastal Science Center, and Harpswell Heritage Land Trust for partnering with the Schoodic Institute to host these trainings.

Women of Maine’s Working Waterfront

FocusMaine

Read the full article here

Maine Beaches Belong to Everyone

The Maine Supreme Court made a big mistake in 1989 when the Court extinguished centuries-old rights to free and unfettered use of all Maine beaches. In practical terms, the Court handed down a flawed decision that encouraged certain landowners along the coast of Maine to unlawfully restrict use of the inter-tidal zone. A lawsuit is the only way to right that wrong. For more information about the lawsuit visit: www.ourbeaches.me. Want to help by donating? Donate here.

Want to keep up with “What’s Trending” in the World of Seaweed?

Visit AlgaePlanet.com for comprehensive and wide-ranging articles that include the uses of algae in energy, food & feed, health & nutrition, industry, research, the environment and more.

Recent articles included:
US Kelp Farming gets a $100 Million Boost
Kelp among future foods to combat malnutrition
Turning Algal Carbohydrates into Lipids for Biofuels
The use of Algae biomass in cosmetic products

You can also choose to go to this link create a user name and password to subscribe to AlgaePlanet’s rss news feed. There you will be able to choose to filter, and receive info on specific topics that you are most interested in reading more about.

New Article from The Island Institute | April 19, 2021 by Susie Arnold, PH.D.

“Celebrate the planet, eat kelp”

Powerhouse Sea Vegetable has the ability to provide nature-based solutions to climate change

… I would like to highlight a nascent industry on the Maine coast that is not only a boon for Maine’s marine economy, but is also good for the Earth. Kelp farming has emerged as a solid way for those making a living from the sea to earn supplemental income during the winter kelp growing season. Read Full Article here.

Marine Scientist at the Island Institute Dr. Susie Arnold conducting research in the field.

A Message to All MSC Members, Friends and Supporters

If you would like to help support the mission of the Maine Seaweed Council, please donate below.




Donate Now via Paypal / Visa / MC and other credit cards.

Maine Seaweed in the News

NECN | October 30, 2019

Could a seaweed diet for cows combat climate change, Maine researchers want to know


Article is available as download here.

Portland Press Herald | October 28, 2019

Rockweed industry adrift after ruling allows landowners to restrict access

SUGGESTED READING

Maine’s Beaches are Public Property: The Bell Cases Must be Reexamined

Profession Orlando Delogu, author of the book “Maine’s Beaches are Public Property,” is seeking additional signatures for this petition to reexamine the Bell Cases. In addition to being associated with the University of Maine School of Law for 51 years and helping to form the Maine Civil Liberties Union, many of our members know how involved Professor Delogu has been in helping in the fight to restore the public’s rights in the intertidal zone. We are glad to have him working with us and hope you will take the time to review this petition and sign if you agree that the Bell Cases should be reexamined. View the Petition Here.

The Great Land Grab – Maine Beaches Ripped from the True Owners: the Towns’ Inhabitants by Dr. Edwin Church

Dr. Church will be attending our meeting on December 19th to share is research into “The Great Land Grab.” Copies of his book will be available and he has graciously provided a complimentary copy to MSC. This is an important issue for all of us and it goes far beyond harvesting seaweed. Learn more at our meeting.

Listen to “Coastal Communities Public Affairs Friday” Radio Broadcast — August 23, 2019

This program about rockweed features conversations with (shown left to right) Jaclyn Robidoux from Maine Sea Grant, Hannah Mittelstaedt from U-Maine/CRASSH, Bonnie Tobey from Source Maine, Greg Tobey from Source Maine, and the program’s host, Natalie Springuel of Maine Sea Grant. George Seaver from Ocean Organics, joined the discussion as a call-in guest since he was unable to be in the studio.
Listen to the entire broadcast here.


View Article as a PDF

Who Owns the Seaweed of Maine?


George Seaver |Sunday, July 7, 2019

Responsibly harvesting seaweed is good for ocean and crops

A recent story in the Village Soup sounded the alarm on the clear-cutting of seaweed in Muscongus Bay. A local resident claimed it had led to a smell wafting from the water. I’d encourage anyone who is concerned to drive down to Muscongus Bay, take a deep breath and look around. I did.

The reality is that there is something amiss in Muscongus Bay, and it’s a campaign to stifle a small but important piece of our working waterfront.

Over the past 15 years, there has been a quiet struggle simmering between those who are involved in the commercial use of seaweed to grow our economy and our ability to grow more food, and those who would stop us. I’m a part of that struggle as a local business owner who manufactures environmentally friendly fertilizers. Read more

March 28, 2019

Official Statement from the Maine Seaweed Council regarding the recent ruling in the Ross V Acadian Seaplants lawsuit


Today’s Law Court decision in favor of privatizing ownership of Maine’s rockweed resource is disappointing and a setback to Maine’s sustainable rockweed harvesting industry. The Maine Seaweed Council (MSC) will continue to support its members who harvest rockweed and to protect working waterfronts and our marine industries. The MSC will also continue working closely with the Maine Department of Marine Resources towards the completion of an intelligent management plan to insure the sustainability of all commercially harvested seaweed species. This has been our goal since our founding in 1993 and today’s court decision will not deter us from insuring this fishery functions responsibly and pro-actively. Download pdf of ruling here.

This important court case with widespread implications relating to ownership of seaweeds and the right to harvest seaweed in the intertidal zone in Maine is currently winding its way through the court system. We will continue to provide links to articles in various publications and updating information as it becomes available. Read news articles about this case here.

Learn More About Our Members

Planet Botanicals was recently profiled in August 2019 in a global cosmetic trade publication discussing global ingredient sourcing including Maine seaweed. Read full article in Cosmetic Design here.

June 2019 Article by Kelli Park published in The Harpswell Anchor An Interview with Bonnie and Greg Tobey of Source, Inc.

The Story of Source, Inc.: Seaweed to Supplements

Growing up on Little Yarmouth Island in Harpswell, Greg and Bonnie Tobey inadvertently became aware of seaweed harvesting at a young age. They watched with childlike curiosity as a lone seaweed harvester earned his living on the waters surrounding the island, passing by on a seaweed-laden skiff day in and day out. Unbeknownst to them at the time, Greg and Bonnie Tobey would eventually become the driving force behind Source, Inc., the Harpswell-based harvesting company that they watched from the shore as children.
“It’s kind of ironic that we ended up working for the company that we’ve watched since we were kids,” Bonnie says. “I like the fact that Source is a grassroots company. It’s a good honest living and it’s a great cause.” Read the full article here.


IN THE NEWS is where you’ll find recently published news and magazine articles about our members, their companies and what they do.