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Seaweeds Australia is a networking forum for research, development, marketing and commercialisation of seaweed in Australia.
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Welcome to the first newsletter for Seaweeds
Australia, a networking forum for research,
development, marketing and commercialisation
of seaweed in Australia. A year on since the
first strategic R&D and industry meetings in
Hobart and Nowra respectively, Seaweeds
Australia is at last formalised and hosted by the
Shoalhaven Marine and Freshwater Centre at
the University of Wollongong, Shoalhaven
Campus. The initiative is currently sponsored in
partnership by the
Australian Govern-
ment Rural Industries
Research & Develop-
ment Corporation
(RIRDC) and the
Fisheries Research &
Development Corpo-
ration (FRDC). The
RIRDC have stimu-
lated and funded R&D in the field of applied
seaweed research for over a decade and have
a history of reports that can be found on their
website (www.rirdc.gov.au). The FRDC are the
lead funding agency for Aquaculture R&D
within which seaweed can have an important
role into the future (www.frdc.gov.au).
Since the original networking meetings, signifi-
cant events, interest and the national network
have grown. Already, Seaweeds Australia has
represented research and industry at national
and international conferences, and the vertical
links between research and industry that were
the intention of Seaweeds Australia have al-
ready started to connect. Now with the estab-
lishment of the newsletter, an initial mailing list
of close to 100 stakeholders and soon a web-
site, it is envisaged that the interest and enthu-
siasm evident at the initial strategic meetings in
2009/2010 will be built on significantly and ini-
tiatives will have the opportunity to flourish.
Communication through Seaweeds Australia
can help to strategically align interests, skills,
capacity and investment in the development of
vibrant and sustainable seaweed industries.
A primary purpose of Seaweeds Australia is the
vertical integration of R&D, commercialisation &
production, marketing and distribution through
communication and promotion of seaweed initia-
tives to end users and governance agencies. To
achieve this a five pronged approach to catego-
rising research and applied themes was devel-
oped; Cultivation, Biotechnology (nutraceuticals,
pharmaceuticals and
other technology appli-
cations), Aquaculture,
Agricultural applica-
tions, Food and Nutri-
tional applications and
Natural Resource
Management. The
Seaweeds Australia
newsletter information
will be categorised according to these themes in
each newsletter, and showcase developments
within each theme. There is however always
overlap between themes so keep your eye
across them all as species, technology or appli-
cations will be common to members across
many themes.
Seaweeds Australia aims to complement, not
replicate, already existing networks in Australia.
Such networks and industry organisations exist
for example in basic phycology and micro algal
applications. Similarly Seaweeds Australia has
international counterparts that extend our net-
works even further.
I hope you find this first issue informative and
realise that an industry and research sector is
only as strong as the sum of it’s parts—and that
includes you. Your confirmation of interest in
this newsletter will secure you in the distribution
for 2011—please see last page. Please contact
us and contribute to the featured themes.
Pia Winberg
(Executive Officer Seaweeds Australia)
Seaweeds Australia Issue 1:1
April 2011
Seaweed
Species Profi le
Petalonia fasciata. A
brown, ephemeral
seaweed from the
family Scytosiphona-
ceae, and commonly
known as “petal weed”
or “false kelp”. It is
distributed in temper-
ate intertidal rocky
shores in both the
northern and southern
hemispheres and is
recorded from all
southern states in
Australia. P. fasciata
was historically used
as a food source in
Europe during the
cooler months when
vegetable production
was low, and is regis-
tered in the U.S. as a
flavour enhancer.
Through a communication network,
vertically integrate the research & de-
velopment, investment, industry, and
market opportunities for sustainable
seaweed industries in Australia.
SEAWEEDS AUSTRALIA MISSION
Seaweeds Australia Editorial P.1
Development of Seaweeds Australia P.2
Theme: Cultivation P.2
Theme: Biotechnology P.3
Theme: Food & Nutrition P.3
Theme: Aquaculture & Agricultural P.4
Theme: Natural Resource Management P.4
Australian Events 2010 P.5
ISAP 2011 and bid for 2014 P.5
Events 2011 and Network Notice Board P.6
In 2009-10, The Rural Industries Re-
search & Development Corporation
sponsored three seaweeds industry
stakeholder meetings that were held in
Nowra, Hobart and Canberra. These
meetings included representatives from
the seaweed industry, research organi-
sations and government departments
respectively. Following these meetings,
delegates endorsed the formation of
Seaweeds Australia as an industry body
to represent the existing, emerging and
future Australian seaweed research,
development and industries.
It was evident that despite a diversity of
Page 2
applications, research skills and mar-
kets, there were common interests
across the stakeholders and a recog-
nition that a united approach to sea-
weed industry development could only
serve to benefit all at the new and
emerging status of the industry, as
well as in
the longer term.
A full report sum-
marising this
process (Lee,
2010) is avail-
able on the
RIRDC web-
site at:
https://
rirdc.infoservices.com.au.
Cultivation of seaweed species in
Australia is very much in its infancy.
Only one cultivated product to our
knowledge is currently close to
commercial production as concur-
rent challenges such as species
selection, propagation and cultiva-
tion technology, the logistics of
scaling up, value adding processes
and vertical integration to markets
will take time to coordinate, align
and deliver reliable production.
However once these challenges are
addressed, Australian conditions
and local species hold great poten-
tial for future markets within each of
the strategic themes of Seaweeds
Australia. Despite the current chal-
lenges, a few species have been
trialled at pilot commercial scales
(i.e. larger than laboratory scales),
and this section of the newsletter
will feature the lessons learned and
the initiatives underway with the
purpose of setting the scene and
providing the opportunity for stake-
holders to source information and
learn from past experiences.
One of the earlier trials between
2002-2005 (Cordover, 2007) focus-
sed on the commercial genus
Gracilaria (rhodophyta). The stimu-
lation for this project was the exis-
tence of 6250 hectares of salt wa-
ter interception and evaporation basins
throughout saline affected areas of South
Eastern Australia, disposing of 50,000
Mega-litres of salt water each year. The
basic concept of utilising saline tolerant
crops and livestock in such areas is logical
and a stakeholder meeting convened in
1997 to discuss a suite of options.
Gracilaria was targeted for its agar mar-
kets and an assumption that this crop
would be technically more feasible than
cultivation of marine animals in inland Aus-
tralia. However there are huge water
chemistry challenges and salinity (Na+ and
Cl- ion concentrations) is not the only pre-
requisite of water for seaweed cultivation.
Inland waters are quite different to sea-
water; most notably high ratios of carbon-
ate to sulfate were found to persist in four
inland saline areas, high sodium to potas-
sium ion ratios were also consistently high
as were metals such as iron.
These water chemistry challenges resulted
in highly variable growth rates and survival
of the Gracilaria species under trial, and
although the study did
not provide for the next
stage of realising com-
mercial production, it
did establish the key
challenges and profile
the condition of inland
saline water for future
reference. A report on
this project is provided by Cordover (2007)
and is available from the RIRDC website
(Publication No. 07/033). It provides valuable
information on the achievements and chal-
lenges of the project.
Seaweeds Australia stakeholders have dis-
cussed these and other findings and identi-
fied that for Australia, with limited cultural
and technical knowledge of seaweed cultiva-
tion, it is strategic to target species selection
and cultivation technology using the abun-
dant, natural and clean marine waters along
our coastlines before adding to the challenge
with variable inland water chemistry. Oce-
anic water chemistry is relatively more con-
sistent than inland saline water, and is more
forgiving of the difficulty in achieving ade-
quate water parameters for seaweed growth
and survival. This does not exclude the po-
tential to achieve inland seaweed cultivation
in the future, but it reduces the risks by tar-
geting smaller challenges, and therefore
increases the potential for success of sea-
weed cultivation development in Australia.
Gracilaria cultivation trials in inland saline affected ponds. Source Cordover 2007.
Page 3 Issue 1:1
Although, food standards for Sea-
weed Products in Australia are lack-
ing due to the limited domestic pro-
duction, it is important that a seaweed
industry in Australia develops with
potential national standards in mind,
best practices and consumer safety
and perception. One foul player in an
industry can cause havoc for all as is
well documented throughout different
produce sectors. Producers must pre-
empts such standards and also con-
tribute to the discussion and develop-
ment of them.
It is also surprising to note that al-
though seaweed is one of the largest
aquaculture products globally, the
regional and international standards
have not been well established either.
The recent proposal to establish inter-
national standards for laver products,
i.e. “nori” or the species Porphyra,
provides some insight into the issues
that Australia may face in adhering to
quality and safety standards of sea-
weed products.
At the recent 17th session of FAO/
Marinova was one of the companies
attending the International Confer-
ence for Seafood and Health in Mel-
bourne during November 2010. The
company presented research findings
at the conference as well as partici-
pated as part of the Seaweeds Aus-
tralia booth. Marinova is one of Aus-
tralia’s few biotechnology companies
with a clear focus on seaweed ex-
tracts and undertakes human clinical
trial research using their extracts. This
includes the effect of their extracts on
the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Arthritis affects approximately 15% of
the Australian population. In Western
herbal medicine tradition, bladder-
wrack (Fucus vesiculosus) and other
seaweeds in the form of topically ap-
plied liniments have been used as
treatment of sore knees. Seaweed
extracts have been shown to contain
at least two major components with
anti-inflammatory activity; fucoidans
and polyphloroglucinols (algal poly-
phenols). Fucoidans are one of the
main therapeutic components of
brown algae and may constitute up to
25-30% of the algal dry weight, de-
WHO Coordinating Committee for Asia,
it was proposed that a regional standard
for laver products, be developed as pro-
duction is moving towards 1.4M tons per
annum. The proposal then further devel-
oped to address a global Codex stan-
dard as laver products are a large export
industry. The resolution was that the
Republic of Korea develop a submission
for the 31st Session of the committee on
Fish and Fishery Products (CCFFP) for
consideration as this organisation was
most likely to have the technical compe-
tence for sea products.
There are many factors which directly
affect the quality and safety of laver
products such as size, moisture, density,
contamination, acid value and more.
Such variability in quality and national
standards if any have caused confusion
in international trade. This could be rele-
vant to those companies who import
laver in bulk and further process the
product in Australia. It is proposed that a
draft standard be prepared by April 2013
for consideration by Codex, with the in-
tent that a final standard adoption is
achieved in 2015. This seems like a slow
process but it is the standard time scale
for the development of seafood standards
with Codex.
Considering seaweeds beyond laver,
some countries have adopted national
standards for quality and safety control.
For example in France, 16 seaweeds have
been classified as acceptable “non-native
foods” (Sassi, 2008). Within these species
there are limits for metal content, microbi-
ological criteria, recommended consump-
tion guidelines for species high in iodine,
and essential consumer information on the
packaging.
It is also worth noting that the Australian
Centre of Excellence Science, Seafood
and Health (CESSH) has produced a
document outlining how health claims can
or can’t be delivered on seafood packag-
ing. Although not specific to or even de-
veloped with consideration of seaweed,
these best practices are an important con-
sideration for seaweed marketers, proces-
sors and consumers (see: http://
cessh.curt in.edu.au/docs/ Industry%
20Guidelines.pdf).
pending on the specific seaweed spe-
cies. Fucoidan has also been demon-
strated to have a potent selectin block-
ing effect and has been used experi-
mentally to prevent inflammatory dam-
age.
Marinova recently investigated the ef-
fects of a seaweed nutrient on the
symptoms of osteoarthritis. The Mari-
tech® extract used was a fucoidan-rich
preparation of brown seaweeds manu-
factured using a novel proprietary aque-
ous process.
The two arm (100 mg and 1000 mg) open
label Phase I and II human clinical trial
showed a clear dose dependent effect of
symptoms of osteoarthritis as assessed
using the comprehensive osteoarthritis
test (COAT) index. This index is com-
prised of four subscales: pain, stiffness,
difficulty with physical activity and overall
symptom severity. After 12 weeks, the
100 mg dose reduced the average COAT
score by 18% and the 1000 mg dose by
52%. (ANZCTR: ACTRN12607000229471)
The COAT index decrease (reduction in symptoms of osteoarthritis) between groups in an open label study using different doses of a new fucoidan rich preparation.
In Jervis Bay on the south coast of NSW,
an unusual seaweed bloom event oc-
curred in late 2010 resulting in extreme
comments in the media such as “Callala
Beach has disappeared”, “the stench is
mind boggling” and “it’s a health hazard”.
The cause of this emotional response
was the green seaweed Microdictyon
umbilicatum, a common and occasionally
blooming species which had not bloomed
in Jervis Bay previously according to
records. The difficulty with this event was
that unlike the more common red sea-
weed blooms, the event lasted for over a
year and created an amenity conflict in a
high tourism area.
As an unusual event, it was difficult for
management agencies to respond, espe-
cially as the management crossed multi-
ple jurisdictional boundaries and respon-
sibilities. The option of removing the sea-
weed from the beach was also difficult to
make as the Bay is highly valued for it’s
biodiversity and fishing. The effects of a
potential massive scale removal of a
nutrient source in the Bay was difficult to
evaluate as such an event was unprece-
dented. However, as Jervis Bay has a
high rate of turnover of water from the
sea, it is unlikely that removal of bloom
biomass from beaches is significantly
detrimental to the ecology of the bay in
one off and rare responses to extreme
events. However the cost of removal is
also an issue, as is the disposal of
such biomass.
If cost effective removal can be
achieved through the identification of a
waste recovery opportunity then this is
potentially a desirable option for man-
agement of M. umbilicatum blooms.
The use of beach wrack biomass from
large blooms as a compost enhancer
for local agricultural lands holds good
potential for waste recovery, however
not much research has been con-
ducted on M. umbilicatum relative to
other green seaweed species such as
Ulva spp., with only 2 published arti-
cles found on it’s biology in the leading
phycological journals. It was not until
2002 that the first evidence of repro-
duction for this species was published
(Kim et al. 2002). Although there is
evidence of M. umbilicatum blooming
elsewhere in calmer water environ-
ments similar to Jervis Bay (Great
Lakes Council 2005; Vroom Timmers
2009), it is not known what key trig-
gers might cause M. umbilicatum
James Cook University researchers de-
livered two presentations at Australasian
Aquaculture 2010 in Hobart, within the
Seaweeds Australia chaired session on
Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture. The
de Nys lab have a strong history in the
early development of integrated aquacul-
ture systems for tropical Australia and in
particular linked to seaweed cultivation.
One research project with links to both
aquaculture and agriculture follows a
simple principle of sustainable environ-
mental engineering, integrating seaweed
culture with animal production systems,
both prawns and terrestrial livestock.
Australian tropical aquaculture is heavily
pond-based with a focus on euryhaline
fish and crustacean species that tolerate
the fluctuating environmental conditions
associated with the tropical (monsoonal)
environment. Aquaculture ponds in
Queensland must adhere to stringent
nutrient discharge regulations and the
adoption of extensive settlement ponds
has resulted in a high standard of envi-
ronmental stewardship by many Queen-
sland prawn farms. However the cost to
production of managing these settle-
range of salinity from 5—45 ppt, and
total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) up
to700µmol/L.
In current work towards the development of utilizing the green tide consortia for animal feeds and biochar (see Bird et al., 2011. Bioresource Technology 102, 1886-1891), this work now links trophic levels of production (animal-plant-animal) that facilitate improved environ-mental compliance, increased production of target species, and the opportunity to develop new aquaculture products.
Specific growth rates across the three genera of seaweeds illustrating different salinity tolerance ranges. Source: de Paula Silva et al. 2008. Inte-grating filamentous “green tide” algae into tropi-cal pond-based aquaculture. Aquaculture 284, 74-80.
blooms. This is not the case for more
common blooming genera such as Ulva
spp., which respond rapidly to ammonium
supply through eutrophication (either
natural upwelling, discharge or run off
events). There are records however of
sporadic M. umbilicatum blooms in near
pristine, marine protected environments
without human impacts and with little con-
sequence for the health of the ecosystem
function in the long term (Vroom Timmers
2009).
Eventually, after more than 12 months, the
bloom receded, however considering the
spatial extent and length of the bloom and
effect on beaches, Shoalhaven City Coun-
cil and the Shoalhaven Marine & Freshwa-
ter Centre at the University of Wollongong
are investigating management options for
beach biomass as a compost conditioner .
Page 4
M. umbilicatum. Photo P. Winberg.
ments ponds is considerable and better
use of the waste nutrients as a resource
could be made.
The de Nys lab developed a seaweed
cultivation system by evaluating the
naturally occurring algal assemblages
in pond systems, to manage nutrient
discharge and environmental compli-
ance, but more importantly to provide
value-added production. They have
developed a range of algal bioremedia-
tion options for application to tropical
aquaculture that remove nitrogen while
providing biological fertilizers, biochar
and animal feeds.
A most critical challenge in culture sys-
tems specific to the tropics, is to ensure
resilience to the strong environmental
fluctuations associated with the tropical
monsoonal climate. de Paula Silva, Paul
and de Nys have identified algal biore-
mediation species, and species consor-
tia, to ensure viable integrated aquacul-
ture systems throughout tropical produc-
tion cycles. Three “green tide” seaweeds
of the genera Cladophora, Chaetomor-
pha and Ulva were successfully cultured
as an algal consortia across a wide
The 4th Congress of the International Society for Applied
Phycology is fast approaching and Seaweeds Australia
will have representatives presenting in Halifax, Canada in
June. ISAP is a broad professional society encompassing
microalgal and macroalgal applications; from foods, to
biotechnology, aquaculture and natural resource manage-
ment, just like Seaweeds Australia (S.A.). This is a very
relevant location for this congress with one of the few
large scale land based cultivation industries as well as
large scale sea-based harvesting. Indeed Australia im-
ports many products from this region for agricultural appli-
cations.
2014 — Seaweeds Australia and the Shoalhaven Marine
& Freshwater Centre have been approached to bid for the
International Society for Applied Phycology 12th Confer-
ence and 5th Congress in 2014. A successful bid would
result in a congress to be held in Sydney, potentially Dar-
ling Harbour, hosting an entourage of 100’s of internation-
ally recognised scientists, industries and emerging talent
and technology in these fields.
A bidding process is currently underway and will be deliv-
ered at ISAP 2011 in Halifax, Canada in June, 2011. S.A.
is seeking interested stakeholders to participate in the
organising committee that will initially support the bid as
identified members of a 2014 conference organising com-
mittee.
The Australasian Aquaculture 2010
Conference was held in Hobart in May
2010, the International Conference for
Seafood & Health in Melbourne during
November 7-10, and the New Rural In-
dustries Australia Conference (NRIA)
at the Gold Coast from November 28-30.
At all of these conferences, Seaweeds
Australia members delivered oral presen-
tations, chaired a session in Hobart and
hosted booth exhibitions in Melbourne
and the Gold Coast. All three confer-
ences covered multiple themes, exhibi-
tions, and presentations that were of high
relevance to all five themes of Seaweeds
Australia and it’s members. Both the pub-
lic, industry and research interest was
high, resulting in new recruits to the Sea-
weeds Australia network and new col-
laborations.
Over 15 applied seaweed R&D or indus-
try outcomes by members were on show,
including initiatives at the University of
Wollongong Shoalhaven Marine & Fresh-
water Centre, James Cook University,
Marinova Pty. Ltd., Abtas Marketing Pty.
Ltd., government initiatives by RIRDC
and the Department of Primary Indus-
tries, Fisheries Victoria, a 2010 Nuffield
Scholar Adam Butterworth and an inter-
national collaborator of Seaweeds
Australia, Prannie Rhatigan and her
newly released Irish Seaweed
Kitchen.
The booths were an effective invest-
ment in outreach to the public, in-
dustry, R&D organisations and fed-
eral government representatives
and agricultural departments alike.
A small live seaweed display was
effective in creating interest in the
sector. Representatives of research capacity and technology that is traditionally
employed within agricultural industries was identified and appeared to hold great
potential for biotechnology development of seaweed industries in Australia. Such
technology includes molecular techniques, sensory perception technology and
carbohydrate chemistry that is commonly employed in the well established and
broad-acre cereal industries. These skills and capacity will be mapped alongside
other national industry and research capacity and infrastructure in Australia to
progress the development of high value seaweed products for Australia.
Clockwise from above: S.A. booth at ICS&H, Melbourne; S.A. booth at NRIA, Gold-coast with the crocodile industry representatives; Australian seaweed tuffets with crocodile and ginger sauce amongst the starters at the NRIA conference.
Pending a successful bid, the organising committee will be
reassigned to deliver the conference in 2014, in conjunction
with a conference organiser and venue. At this early stage,
Business Events Sydney is assisting in the bid process,
conference sponsorship and early stages of organisation
for venues in and around Darling Harbour in
Sydney.
If you are keen to nomi-
nate yourself for the
Seaweeds Australia
ISAP Congress 2014
bid as well as the po-
tential conference
organising commit-
tee, please contact
Pia Winberg as
soon as possible.
We would like a
diverse, represen-
tative and pro-
ductive group for
this committee.
Contact:
Page 5
M. umbilicatum. Photo P. Winberg.
International Events
The 4th Congress of the International Society for
Applied Phycology (ISAP), Halifax Canada from
June 19-24, 2011:
www.isap2011-halifax.org/
6th Asian Pacific Phycological Forum (APPF)
Yeosu, Korea from 9th - 14th
October, 2011: abstract deadline May 31
www.appf2011.org/sub/invitation.asp
Alg’n’Chem 2011
Algae, new resources for Industry?
France, 7-10 Nov. 2011: abstract deadline May 15
www.appf2011.org/sub/invitation.asp
The Shoalhaven Marine &
Freshwater Centre at the
University of Wollongong is
the host organization for
Seaweeds Australia
Please contact Pia Winberg
for queries:
Seaweeds Australia
c/o Shoalhaven Marine &
Freshwater Centre
Shoalhaven Campus
PO Box 5080 Nowra DC
NSW 2541 Australia
This space will be provided in Future
Newsletters for a network notice board.
Please send any contributions and novel notes
related to seaweed to [email protected].
In this issue I have selected to showcase a new
seaweed recipe book from Ireland released last
year. Many stakeholders of Seaweeds Austra-
lia ask about recipes and how to cook sea-
weeds, to which I have to reply that there are
not many recipe books or information about our
edible local seaweed species yet. However
Prannie’s book includes description of some of
the seaweed genera and species that we also
have in Australia, as well as some that we can
source through imported products. Remember
always, that you need to know your species
and the health of the environment in which it
grows for quality and safety. As there is much
to gain from eating more seaweed in our diet,
this book is a great inspiration
Page 6
We’ll be on
the web SOON!