New Species

Asparagopsis

Cawthron will leverage the activities of its current research and development project into the red seaweed species Asparagopsis armata which has potential application as a methane-reducing cattle feed supplement.

Cawthron algae researchers are currently working on closing the life-cycle in the laboratory and intend to develop farming systems to support the scaled-up aquaculture production of this species. Where these objectives align with the aims of Ngā Punga o te Mōana research and development, the two R&D programmes will collaborate.

The NZ market alone for Asparagopsis could be hundreds of thousands of tonnes per annum if its methane reducing efficacy, safety and feasibility are proven. Enabling this new seaweed industry could have significant economic value plus dramatic and positive environmental implications for livestock production.

Kelps

Kelps are one of the largest types of seaweed and can grow up to 20 metres long. They tend to grow in forests on the seafloor (subtidal zone) out to 30m deep. Around the world kelps are harvested and farmed for a variety of uses, including food, fertilisers, and increasingly for pharmaceutical/nutraceutical products. There are four species of kelp growing on mainland Aotearoa New Zealand, three of which are native and one - Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) - which is considered a pest species even though it is globally consumed as a food product.

When selecting the species to investigate through Ngā Punga o te Moana, we will draw upon a recent 'Building A Seaweed Sector' project report, lead authored by Cawthron researchers for Aotearoa New Zealand's Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge. Many of the researchers involved in drafting the report are also involved in the Ngā Punga o te Moana Programme, creating another important opportunity to leverage previous research findings.