In integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) production of cultured species may not align temporally. For instance, at an IMTA site in Kyuquot Sound, BC where the cultured species are Anoplopoma fimbria (sablefish), Plactopentin yesoensis (Japanese scallop) and Saccharina latissima (sugar kelp), sablefish are grown year round while the kelp culturing lasts from winter to summer. Kelp sporophytes become visible in early spring while harvest takes place in July. This indicates that at Surprise Island the time period of nutrient extraction by the kelp is limited to only a few months per year. Two potentials methods to lengthen the time in which the kelp component was on site were employed and evaluated: 1. the use of multiple kelp species with potentially differing seasonal growth strategies and; 2. outplanting kelp seed at four different times of the year. The first method involved outplanting seed of four kelp species, Saccharina latissima, Costaria costata, Alaria marginata and Saccharina groenlandica and monitoring growth parameters (blade length and yield). For the second method, a modified seed production method of Merrill and Gillingham (1991) with Luning and Dring (1973) successfully provided seed throughout the year. Seasonally out-planted seed was also monitored for growth parameters. Results were marginal for experiments and were confounded by the lack of growth rates due to infrastructure problems, grazing by naturally setting marine snails and seemingly poor environmental conditions for kelp culturing at the farm site. However, data indicated that certain species in co-culture may slightly increase the time period, and strategically entered kelp seed may do the same. In particular the co-culture of C. costaria and S. groenlandica or biannual seed outplanting in fall and spring may increase the length of growth period of kelp provided certain limitations found during this experiment are overcome (i.e. pressures of grazing). Additional potential benefits with these kelp production strategies are the diversification of final kelp products, additional kelp harvests and increased production. / Graduate

Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur aktörer inom tångbranschen i Norden ser på möjligheter och utmaningar i industrin. För att genomföra studien användes kvalitativ metod i form av semistrukturerade intervjuer. Fem personer intervjuades, alla kopplade till tångindustrin i Norden. Intervjuerna syftade till att ge en djupare bild av tångaktörernas syn på möjligheter och utmaningar inom industrin samt deras syn på framtiden. För att analysera det insamlade materialet användes tematisk analys. Den tematiska analysen resulterade i två huvudteman: innovativ framtidssyn och osäker framtid. I resultatet konstaterades det att tångbranschen har potential. Samtidigt visar resultatet att det finns många utmaningar industrin bör hantera innan tång kan etableras i stort på marknaden. Tång anses vara en hållbar råvara som förhoppningsvis kan ersätta vissa landbaserade råvaror, vilket är en av råvarans fördelar. Vidare kan tång växa i samspel med andra marina organismer och även skapa cirkulära samarbeten med landbaserad odling. En av utmaningarna industrin handskas med är höga produktionskostnader; det finns ett behov av teknik som kan driva ner kostnaderna. Det råder även brist på kunskap om råvaran hos konsumenter, vilket leder till svårigheter att marknadsföra samt utöka produktionen. Synen på tång som en hållbar råvara är tvådelad, även om tång som råvara är hållbar i sig, är inte tångodling synonymt med hållbarhet eftersom dess påverkan på marina ekosystem är oviss. Ytterligare en utmaning som industrin brottas med är tångens innehåll av jod. Olika tångarter har olika jodhalt där vissa lämpar sig bättre för mänsklig konsumtion medan andra bör undvikas. Detta i samband med att det finns ett gränsvärde för hur mycket jod som bör konsumeras utgör en av många utmaningar i industrin. / The purpose of the study was to examine how Nordic kelp actors view on possibilities and challenges in the industry. To conduct the study a qualitative method and semistructured interviews were used. Five individuals with connections to the kelp industry in the Nordic countries were interviewed. The interviews aimed to give a more complex picture of the kelp actors view on possibilities and challenges in the industry and their view on the future. To analyze the collected data thematic analysis was applied. The thematic analysis concluded in two themes, innovative view of the future and uncertain future. The result shows that there is potential in the kelp industry, however there are also challenges that needs to be solved before kelp can be established on the market. The potential of the industry is that kelp is seen as a sustainable raw material, and that it potentially could replace some land grown crops. Further can kelp integrate with other marine organisms and have potential to create circular cooperations with land-based cultivation, for example by using it as a fertilizer. One challenge that the industry is facing today is high production costs; there is a need for technology that can lower the costs. The consumers also have a lack of knowledge in the area which leads to producers hesitating to market kelp products sufficiently. The view on kelp as a sustainable raw material is bipartite, even though kelp in itself is sustainable, kelp farming is not equal to sustainability since its impact on the marine ecosystems is uncertain. Another challenge the industry is facing is the iodine content in kelp. Depending on kelp species the iodine content vary, where some of the species are more suitable for human consumption while others should be avoided. This together with the current limit for iodine intake constitutes one of many challenges in the industry.