A. Species
Scientific name: Laminaria hyperborea
Common name(s): Brown kelp
Global IUCN Red List Threat Status:
B. Location of use
Geographic location(s):
- Norway
Country/Region: Norway / coastal waters
C. Scale of assessment
Scale of assessment: National Level
Name/Details of location: Norwegian harvest fields A-E
D. Timescale of use
Start Year: 1998
End Year: 2009
E. Information about the use
How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat
Type of use: Extractive
Practice of use: Gathering/Cutting/Collecting terrestrial plants and fungi or their products from the wild
Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal and Non-Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of: Only parts or products of the organism
Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed and Medicine and hygiene
Motivation of use: Largescale commercial exploitation for trade
Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law
F. Information about the Users
Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: National / local private sector
G. Information about the sustainability of use
Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: Based on assessments undertaken by the Norwegian Seaweed Management Plan administered by The Ministry of Fisheries, which has the authority to confirm an area regulation after consultation with the Directorate for Nature Management under the Ministry of the Environment.
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Based on a clear understanding of the ecology and life cycle of L. hyperborea as well as the ecosystem, a sustainable management program for the harvest was created with a 5-year cycle and rotating zones in fields as the foundation of the plan. This has allowed a steady annual harvest of 130,000–180,000 t wet weight, depending on market demand. In the last decade, the Norwegian government, working with industry and other stakeholders, has produced more refined policies/documents governing the harvest.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Socially, the Norwegian seaweed industry is highly regulated to ensure sustainability. The study explains that the Marine Resources Act is intended to ensure sustainable and economically profitable management of wild living marine resources and to promote employment and settlement in coastal communities. Eleven seaweed trawlers operate with a total annual harvest from 130,000 to 180,000 t year−1,depending on market demand. These trawlers deliver the raw material to collecting stations along the coast for later transportation to the alginate plant near Haugesund. All these stages clearly support substantial employment, as do subsidiary seaweed derivate industries; however, employment and economics are not detailed. Seaweed derivates are used in a variety of health products and supplements.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Socially, the Norwegian seaweed industry is highly regulated to ensure sustainability. The study explains that the Marine Resources Act is intended to ensure sustainable and economically profitable management of wild living marine resources and to promote employment and settlement in coastal communities. Eleven seaweed trawlers operate with a total annual harvest from 130,000 to 180,000 t year−1,depending on market demand. These trawlers deliver the raw material to collecting stations along the coast for later transportation to the alginate plant near Haugesund. All these stages clearly support substantial employment, as do subsidiary seaweed derivate industries; however, employment and economics are not detailed. Seaweed derivates are used in a variety of health products and supplements.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Used in foods, cosmetics and dietary supplements.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Details of assessment carried out: This study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: It's an algae
Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species
The study concludes that future attention needs to given to the commercial control of the harvesting areas to assure they are fully utilized during the year, and the target volume for that area is harvested. This will requires directing boats to different areas, depending on weather conditions. Areas protected from storms can be harvested in the fall/winter while more exposed areas can be harvested in the calmer spring and summer. This will improve the safety of the boat crews as well as assuring steady material flow to the factory. Gradually, all of
Record source
Information about the record source: scientific_pub
Date of publication/issue/production: 2011-01-01T00:00:00+0000
Source Reference(s):
Date of record entry: 2022-12-13