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The Problem with Seaweed Aquaculture: Hidden Threats to Marine Life

How To Protect The Ocean

Release Date: 06/23/2025

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How To Protect The Ocean

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How To Protect The Ocean

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How To Protect The Ocean

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How To Protect The Ocean

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How To Protect The Ocean

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How To Protect The Ocean

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How To Protect The Ocean

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The problem with seaweed aquaculture is that it’s not always as ocean-friendly as it seems. While seaweed farming is often praised as a climate solution—able to sequester carbon, improve water quality, and support sustainable food systems—scientists are now warning that its rapid, unregulated expansion could be damaging vital marine ecosystems. In this episode of How to Protect the Ocean, we dive into how seaweed farms are being placed over seagrass meadows, disrupting fish nurseries, smothering biodiversity, and altering water chemistry in ways we’re only beginning to understand.

You’ll hear about the overlooked risks, from nutrient depletion and fertilizer runoff to coral reef shading and invasive species. We also explore solutions: better regulations, smarter zoning, and the importance of protecting seagrass habitats that store carbon and support marine life. Seaweed aquaculture can be part of the solution, but only if we act with caution and science in mind.

Link to article: https://theconversation.com/expanding-seaweed-farms-pose-a-risk-to-vital-marine-life-248329