Farmers see green in seaweed
Harvest time is here for one of Australia’s newest cash crops, with Tasmanian seaweed farmers reaping what the ocean has sown.
Seaweed farming has the potential to become a solid new contributor to the country’s agricultural sector, with two enterprising sea-farmers telling media outlets their venture is paying off.
In an interview this week farmer James Ashmore said harvest season is on for one of the easiest catches in the sea, saying “it's great...it doesn't go very fast and I can catch it.”
Mr Ashmore and business partner Craig Sanderson were integral in establishing the Tasmanian seaweed market after moving from Victoria over thirty years ago. The pair say the waters off Tasmania’s coast are perfect for bulging seaweed crops, and that they are doing the sea a service by trimming its supplies.
Mr Sanderson said they are constantly learning about new varieties of marine plants, with plans in the future to establish exports of Wakame, Mekabu and other variants to Japan.
The seaweed harvest is nearing its peak, lasting just a few months before summer.