EVALUATING THE GROWTH OF BULL KELP Nereocystis luetkeana FROM HATCHERY TO LONG LINE CULTIVATION IN HUMBOLDT BAY

The cultivation, restoration, and conservation of macroalgae are emerging mariculture practices in the United States. In spring of 2019, Cal Poly Humboldt partnered with GreenWave to establish one of the first small-scale commercial seaweed farm, ProvidenSea, in California. Since then, the farm has been home to several research projects that focus on regenerative and related initiatives in Humboldt Bay. The purpose of this proposal is to evaluate the cultivation of bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) in a hatchery at the Cal Poly marine lab in Trinidad, CA, and successfully integrate them to grow out in open water in Humboldt Bay.

The project will consist of 8 aquaria replicates containing spools (pvc wrapped with speeding string). We will evaluate the growth and morphology of bull kelp using a variety of seeding strings commonly used in different regions for open water cultivation of macroalgae.Once the spools reach the optimal development stage and length (juvenile sporophyte at 3 mm in length), they will be transported to Cal Poly Humboldt ProvidenSea seaweed farm, where they will be out planted in the longline for further assessment of growth. Nutrients in the seaweed’s tissues and surrounding water will be analyzed to determine the extractive properties of macroalgae grown in the bay.

Presently, this is one of the first attempts to grow bull kelp from a hatchery to an ocean farm setting on the northern Pacific coast of California. Results from this study will help in expanding the under-developed research in bull kelp cultivation practices, early gametophyte settlement and provide a foundation for future farmers in regenerative seaweed farming practices within the California northern pacific coast.