Welcome to the
SOUTH AFRICAN
KELP FARMING PROJECT
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) delivers science and technology partnerships to maximise the UK’s development impact internationally. It is within this context that the South African Kelp Farming Project (SA KFP) was proactively commissioned in recognition of the opportunity to potentially develop a sustainable kelp farming industry in South Africa (SA).
The Bivalve Shellfish Farmers Association of South Africa (BSASA) was the implementing organisation responsible for the implementation of the multi-stakeholder project funded by the United Kingdom (UK) government via the FCDO and supported by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
The Phase 1 Pre-feasibility study (implemented over four months during 2021-2022) demonstrated positive potential for kelp farming in SA and identified Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape Province as a suitable trial location for the Phase 2 Feasibility study (implemented over three years from 2022- 2025) that carried out the first successful full life cycle cultivation of the three local kelp species in an aquaculture setting in Africa.
Project Background
The goal of the project was to gather, analyse and disseminate evidence and research results to a broad stakeholder base, including the existing aquaculture industry and new potential entrants to lay the foundations toward building a sustainable Kelp Aquaculture Industry in SA and the region.
Project Goal & Achievements
determining the season most suitable for the three local kelps to be grown in Small Bay of Saldanha Bay by monitoring and comparing environmental factors, kelp growth and phytoplankton,
analysing all three local kelps to assist with food safety standards and certification,
conducting preliminary pre-processing trials to establish if two methods of blanching (i.e. boiling and/or steaming) could reduce the content of potentially harmful heavy metals, arsenic and iodine,
developing a business planning guide for kelp farming in SA and an associated financial forecasting model with worksheets to assist with financial projections and planning,
and producing a comprehensive kelp market assessment, value chain analysis and roadmap for the expansion and strengthening of the kelp value chain in SA to enable the development of a sustainable kelp farming industry in SA.
successfully advocating for the amendment of the Environmental Authorisation to include farming of indigenous seaweed species in the Saldanha Bay Aquaculture Development Zone,
tailoring publicly available hatchery and nursery culturing methods for all three local kelp species,
trialling various grow-out production systems and obtaining yields on vertical droppers comparable to that obtained in countries such as the USA where kelps are farmed profitably,
compiling Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the kelp production cycle (hatchery, nursery, weaning, and grow-out methods),
determining which biofouling species occur on the three kelp species that could possibly affect blade quality and ultimately the price when sold, and the seasonality of biofouling in local kelp aquaculture,
The Phase 2 Feasibility Study built on the Phase 1 achievements by;
Kelp is a large brown seaweed. There are three kelp species of economic value in SA which include Ecklonia maxima (1), Laminaria pallida (2) and Macrocystis pyrifera (3).
Potential uses of seaweeds include food supplements, plant growth enhancers, textiles, bioplastics, biofuel, carbon sequestration and habitat formation.
In SA, different initiatives have been independently involved in attempting to grow seaweed including kelp, and to develop niche products and markets for seaweed. This highlights the need for collaboration between government, industry, and research organisations to combine forces to address the potential development of a kelp aquaculture industry.
What Is Kelp And Why Farm It?
1. Ecklonia maxima
2. Laminaria pallida
3. Macrocystis pyrifera
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After collecting sorus material (1) of the three local kelp species, the release of billions of microscopic kelp spores were induced in the hatchery which then settle onto thin twine wrapped around PVC spools.
The spores develop into male and female gametophytes which release sperm and eggs. Once the eggs are fertilised, the zygote develops into macroscopic sporophytes and once the juvenile sporophytes are large enough (3), they can be out-planted onto rafts/long-lines in the sea (4).
As soon as the kelps reach market size (5), they are harvested and tested for food safety after which they can be sold as raw product or processed into multiple other kelp products. This process is sustainable and may open doors for entry into kelp farming, boosting SA’s economy and job creation potential (6).
What Is The Process?
Promotional Video of the
South African Kelp Farming Project
Deliverables
PHASE 1
Bolton, J.J. and Rothman, M.D. (2024). The potential for kelp (order Laminariales) aquaculture in South Africa: a biological review. Bot. Mar. 67, in press - 10.1515/bot-2023-0055
Lück-Vogel, M., Bolton, J.J., Rothman, M.D., Bernatzeder, M., Macey, B.M., Cyrus, M.D., Arendse, D.C.Z., Pillay, P.J., and Brown-Webb, B. (2024). Considerations for kelp aquaculture on
South Africa’s west coast: geospatial analysis and research implications. Bot. Mar. 67 - 10.1515/bot-2023-0057
PHASE 2
FINAL PROJECT REPORT
Please note: the Hatchery & Nursery Report, the Weaning & Grow-out Report and the Nutritional value, Food Safety and Pre-preprocessing Report are attached to the Final Project Report as Annexures.
PROJECT MANAGER QUARTERLY REPORTS
2022-2023
2023-2024
2024-2025
WHEN STARTING A KELP FARMING INITIATIVE,
YOU WILL NEED...
Financial Forecasting Worksheets for Kelp Farming, Feb 2025
INFORMATION SHARING
KELP FARMING PRODUCTION CYCLE & STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
USEFUL LINKS & RESOURCES
USA BASED NATIONAL SEAWEED HUB:
USA BASED GREENWAVE HUB:
KELP FARMING MANUALS
Contact
Project Manager:
Dr Lizeth Botes
+27 83 230 3204
For general information and advice on Aquaculture farming, please contact the DFFE.