Alternative Kelp Cultivation

Naas Foods, a seafood company based in Tofino, is working with CARTI to develop and test new kelp farming structures that use natural materials (metal and jute). The goal is to develop a scalable system that is more environmentally sustainable than standard rope-based cultivation methods.

Project Dates: January 3, 2023 to June 2, 2023

Funding Amount: $20,000 (ARTP)

Number of Student Researchers: 2

Project Summary

Naas Foods is an Indigenous-led seafood company based in Tofino. They have recently diversified their operations to include a large kelp farm, and they are dedicating a portion of the tenure to research and development. Naas Foods approached CARTI with several research questions, including how can we grow kelp that mimics a natural ecosystem but still produces the yield and consistency expected of a farm? Together, CARTI researchers, students, and the Naas team developed some designs for new kelp cultivation structures that are made of metal and jute with minimal plastics.

The first prototypes were installed at the farm in March 2023 and were seeded with bull kelp at two different densities. Researchers will be monitoring both the kelp growth/yield, and the durability of the structures themselves. The goal is to create kelp cultivation systems that are environmentally sustainable and practically/financially scalable for the company.