Keeler, Sharon

English

UNH Scholars' Repository

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices2-16-2000UNH Scientist Explores Seaweed AquacultureSharon KeelerUNH Media RelationsFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationKeeler, Sharon, "UNH Scientist Explores Seaweed Aquaculture" (2000). UNH Today. 2907.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/290711/29/17, 12(08 PMUNH Scientist Explores Seaweed AquaculturePage 1 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2000/february/sk_20000216seaweed.html UNH Scientist Explores SeaweedAquacultureCultivation Could Be Lucrative Business for NewEngland GrowersBy Sharon KeelerUNH News BureauDURHAM, N.H. -- Great progress has been made overthe past couple of years in the scientific community andcommercial sector to develop ways to farm the sea.Aquaculture, borne out of necessity to save depletingfish stocks, and a desire to sustain natural resources,looks to be a burgeoning industry in the newmillennium.Scientists at the University of New Hampshire, likegeneticist Anita Klein, are at the forefront of discoveryin this field. In her laboratory at Rudman Hall, Kleinand her students are studying seaweed. They arecollaborating with a group of New England scientists tomeasure the diversity of North Atlantic red algae, calledPorphyra. This marine plant, which grows in rockyintertidal habitats along the New England coast and inestuarine areas, is deep red to greenish-brown in color.The Japanese species of Porphyra is cultivated to makenori, the seaweed wrapper used for sushi. Japan is theprinciple consumer of nori, and the major exporter tothe United States, capitalizing on a $2 billion industry itshares with Korea and China. According to Klein,cultivating this marine plant for local sale and exportcould be a lucrative business for New England growers."Our overall goal is to be able to adapt local species forseaweed aquaculture," she says. While seaweed isharvested for commercial applications -- to produceagar for the medical industry, for example -- it has notbeen grown successfully in the United States throughaquaculture. A major Porphyra venture in Eastport,Maine, was unsuccessful because it used a non-nativespecies that did not adapt well. Scientists believe thatlocal New England Porphyrae have great potential fornori aquaculture, but they have little baseline11/29/17, 12(08 PMUNH Scientist Explores Seaweed AquaculturePage 2 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2000/february/sk_20000216seaweed.htmlinformation about the different species.Klein is working with fellow UNH researchers ArtMathieson and Chris Neefus to better understand thenative Porphyra species. This involves both geneticstudies to determine identifying markers, and fieldecology studies to learn which species thrive in varioustypes of environmental conditions. Salinity,temperature, availability of nutrients, currents and waveactivity all play a part in determining where a Porphyraspecies decides to take up residence.Klein and her students are looking for better geneticmarkers to distinguish each of the six native NewEngland species. Because Porphyra species looksimilar, descriptive characteristics like thickness, coloror shape do not reliably distinguish one from another.In Klein's laboratory, sophisticated scientific techniquesare used to decode the genetic fingerprint of eachPorphyra species. DNA fragments are separated in anelectric field on a gel that produces distinct bandingpatterns for each. These sequences are then used toidentify similar samples, or to categorize those that aredifferent."This type of work is most important tocommercialization of native Porphyra species," saysKlein. "Once you can accurately identify a certainspecies you can pair it with its bioecologicalcharacteristics. What does it need to thrive, in terms ofwater temperature, nutrients and salinity? People willneed this type of information as they make decisionsabout whether it's economically feasible to growPorphyra." February 16, 2000Back to unh.edu.

UNH Scientist Explores Seaweed Aquaculture

University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices2-16-2000UNH Scientist Explores Seaweed AquacultureSharon KeelerUNH Media RelationsFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationKeeler, Sharon, "UNH Scientist Explores Seaweed Aquaculture" (2000). UNH Today. 2700.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/270011/29/17, 12(08 PMUNH Scientist Explores Seaweed AquaculturePage 1 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2000/february/sk_20000216seaweed.html UNH Scientist Explores SeaweedAquacultureCultivation Could Be Lucrative Business for NewEngland GrowersBy Sharon KeelerUNH News BureauDURHAM, N.H. -- Great progress has been made overthe past couple of years in the scientific community andcommercial sector to develop ways to farm the sea.Aquaculture, borne out of necessity to save depletingfish stocks, and a desire to sustain natural resources,looks to be a burgeoning industry in the newmillennium.Scientists at the University of New Hampshire, likegeneticist Anita Klein, are at the forefront of discoveryin this field. In her laboratory at Rudman Hall, Kleinand her students are studying seaweed. They arecollaborating with a group of New England scientists tomeasure the diversity of North Atlantic red algae, calledPorphyra. This marine plant, which grows in rockyintertidal habitats along the New England coast and inestuarine areas, is deep red to greenish-brown in color.The Japanese species of Porphyra is cultivated to makenori, the seaweed wrapper used for sushi. Japan is theprinciple consumer of nori, and the major exporter tothe United States, capitalizing on a $2 billion industry itshares with Korea and China. According to Klein,cultivating this marine plant for local sale and exportcould be a lucrative business for New England growers."Our overall goal is to be able to adapt local species forseaweed aquaculture," she says. While seaweed isharvested for commercial applications -- to produceagar for the medical industry, for example -- it has notbeen grown successfully in the United States throughaquaculture. A major Porphyra venture in Eastport,Maine, was unsuccessful because it used a non-nativespecies that did not adapt well. Scientists believe thatlocal New England Porphyrae have great potential fornori aquaculture, but they have little baseline11/29/17, 12(08 PMUNH Scientist Explores Seaweed AquaculturePage 2 of 2http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2000/february/sk_20000216seaweed.htmlinformation about the different species.Klein is working with fellow UNH researchers ArtMathieson and Chris Neefus to better understand thenative Porphyra species. This involves both geneticstudies to determine identifying markers, and fieldecology studies to learn which species thrive in varioustypes of environmental conditions. Salinity,temperature, availability of nutrients, currents and waveactivity all play a part in determining where a Porphyraspecies decides to take up residence.Klein and her students are looking for better geneticmarkers to distinguish each of the six native NewEngland species. Because Porphyra species looksimilar, descriptive characteristics like thickness, coloror shape do not reliably distinguish one from another.In Klein's laboratory, sophisticated scientific techniquesare used to decode the genetic fingerprint of eachPorphyra species. DNA fragments are separated in anelectric field on a gel that produces distinct bandingpatterns for each. These sequences are then used toidentify similar samples, or to categorize those that aredifferent."This type of work is most important tocommercialization of native Porphyra species," saysKlein. "Once you can accurately identify a certainspecies you can pair it with its bioecologicalcharacteristics. What does it need to thrive, in terms ofwater temperature, nutrients and salinity? People willneed this type of information as they make decisionsabout whether it's economically feasible to growPorphyra." February 16, 2000Back to unh.edu.

https://scholars.unh.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3699&amp;context=news

UNH Scientist Explores Seaweed Aquaculture

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

UNH Scholars' Repository

UNH Scholars' Repository