Ecological aquaculture of New Zealand seaweeds
This is a suggestion for a Degree Project for Bachelor's and Master's levels at the Department of Marine Sciences. Degree projects at the Department of Marine Sciences are done independently and must be written and assessed individually.
Area: Marine Biology
Level: Master project
Contact: Johan Svenson, Cawthron Institute, Pierre de Wit, University of Gothenburg
Location: Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand
Background
The commercial production of seaweed in the Western world is emerging as new industry with both potential and also challenges. As a country generally farming shellfish and finfish, seaweed aquaculture is new to New Zealand and the high endemism of seaweeds means we must start from scratch when learning how to grow NZ-native seaweeds.
This also provides New Zealand with a potential competitive advantage from a commercial perspective. At Cawthron, we are particularly interested in brown seaweeds (Fucales and Laminariales), which have a wide variety of applications from production aquaculture to ecosystem restoration, and even as biological controls of invasive species.
Project description
This project aims to design, develop and optimise growing environments for the early life stages of several NZ-native seaweeds like Carpophyllum maschalocarpum and Durvillaea willana.
The student will collect reproductive seaweeds from the field alongside Cawthron researchers, encourage them to reproduce in the laboratory, and then conduct experiments to test the effects of water temperature, the light environment, and nutrient concentrations on the survival and development of these important coastal species to underpin a future aquaculture industry.
Contacts
Paul South: Paul.south@cawthron.org.nz
Cecilia Biancacci: Cecilia.Biancacci@cawthron.org.nz
Johan Svenson: Johan.Svenson@cawthron.org.nz
More about Cawthron
Cawthron Institute is New Zealand’s largest and oldest independent research organisation with a 100-year history of delivering practical research solutions that benefit New Zealand and the rest of the world.
The majority of the research undertaken at Cawthron is focused on the marine and freshwater environment. Cawthron’s purpose is to deliver world class science for a better future. We partner with Māori, industry, academia, international stakeholders and government to deliver on our outcomes of healthy ecosystems, a prospering blue economy, thriving people and communities and our five impact pathways:
- Turning the tide on climate change
- Protecting and enhancing aquatic environments
- Securing safe and sustainable food
- Realising the potential of algae
- Supporting resilient communities in the Pacific
Project resources
During the New Zealand-based phase of the project, Cawthron will provide full host support, including:
- Access to necessary practical research facilities and materials
- Supervision, training, mentoring and technical support, as required
- Personal desk space and access to internal network and internet
- Incorporation into Cawthron staff, student and early career researcher networking groups
Support costs (including Cawthron staff time) will be covered by Cawthron.