What is Marine Permaculture?
Marine permaculture is a sustainable farming concept that focuses on cultivating marine ecosystems in a way that mimics natural processes. It involves the cultivation of kelp forests and other seaweed species to create ecosystems that provide habitats for various marine organisms. Marine permaculture can grow seaweed at scale, restore and enhance marine habitat, sequester carbon, and improve the health of our oceans.
There is too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and is causing global warming. The oceans have absorbed a lot of this heat, with warmer water blanketing the surface. This prevents natural upwelling of nutrient-rich cold waters that seaweed and marine life rely on. As a result, many intertidal, or near-shore, kelp forests and seaweed farms are not able to thrive.
Floating marine permaculture seaweed farms are created out in the open oceans. The technology pumps up deep, cold, nutrient-rich waters to help kelp grow again. The crops are versatile and can be used for biofuel, fertilizer, animal feed, food, and extracts. The kelp also absorbs CO2 and provides habitat and food for fish. This is already bringing life back to seaweed farms.