I'll use my local area whenever possible to identify sustainable adaptations and one will surely be seeking post fossil fuel fertilizer options. Seaweed harvest has a long history in the coastal regions of Ireland and Scandinavia and the practice is well adopted in Canada."Rock Weed" is a very common species found at the lower tide zones from Greenland to the edge of the Mangrove swamps of the South. It has value properties as a compost and as a barnyard feed due to the many trace minerals.
Here in Massachusetts there is probably room for some growth in the harvest of seaweed to supplement CSA farms through out the commonwealth.
It may even become a growth industry supplement to job losses from other fishery declines. As petro-fertilizer increases in price the presence of a valuable option at our doorstep can only become more valuable to make the transition out of the Oil Era. May the Commonwealth one day have something like this as a resource to promote the potential.
Neptune's Harvest is a ready for market range of seaweed and fish emulsion fertilizers made by a division of the Gloucester based Ocean Crest Seafoods. And for those seeking examples of other Irish Seaweed products, Dolphin Sea Vegetable Company might be a fun place to start.
