Getting to know your local seaweeds is a great way to learn about the place where you live – and some of them are tasty to eat, too!

Whether you live somewhere that allows seaweed foraging, or if you’re just going looking, making friends with seaweed can reveal all kinds of secrets about the marine ecosystem.

Once you know your local seaweeds, you can share your skills and knowledge with others - and help your friends learn more about their local ecosystem, too.

By Kirsten Bradley + Brenna Quinlan. Based on the book ‘Milkwood’ www.milkwood.net

SEAWEED IN THE ECOSYSTEM

MARINE LIFE THAT DEPENDS ON SEAWEEDS

Seaweeds are a macro (big) form of algae, which are a totally different kingdom of life to plants. Marine algae are vital to our planet - 80% of the oxygen in our atmosphere comes from them! Algae and seaweeds are also super important in our marine ecosystems - they provide habitat, food and oxygen for many different forms of life. Some algae are smaller than you can see, yet some seaweeds can grow taller than a tree!

By the seaside, seaweeds provide food for turtles, crabs, fish and more. Even when seaweed is dead and washed up on the beach, it’s still vital to the seaside ecosystem as food and habitat, and it’s useful to us, too.

SEABIRDS HUNT FOR BUGS IN BEACH-CAST SEAWEED

MANY SPIECES OF FISH WEEDY SEA DRAGONSSEABIRD

CRABS TURTLES SEA URCHINS

TYPES OF SEAWEED TO FORAGE FORAGING AND HARVESTING SEAWEED

BEACH-CAST SEAWEED

SEAWEED HARVESTING KIT

SEAWEEDS NOT TO HARVEST

Never harvest seaweeds that are still alive and attached to their rocks, or anything in a protected area. In some areas, however, harvesting live sea lettuce is allowed.

Once you know which seaweeds to look for, it’s time to go looking! Forage for seaweed only in clean waters, just before low tide.

• Leave alone the first seaweed that you see – just in case it’s the last one!• Take a bit from here, and a bit from there. Leave plenty behind.• Take no more than you need.• When the tide turns and begins to come back in, finish foraging for the day.

Gather beach-cast seaweed as it rolls in on the waves, or at low tide on the beach – take only seaweed that looks fresh and yummy! Leave the older seaweed for the marine ecosystem.

A basket or bag which doesn’t mind getting wet is a good idea,and something that can let sand and water out is even better.

BASKET SANDALS CLOTH BAG BLUNT SCISSORS SEAWEED

SEA LETTUCE

BULL KELP

GOLDEN KELP

WAKAME

GOOD RULES FOR SEAWEED HARVESTING

Also, check the rules for seaweed gathering where you are. And remember not to harvest live seaweed that’s still attached to rocks.

If you live somewhere where sea lettuce harvesting is allowed, take blunt scissors with you to snip off little pieces from the top, so the algae can grow back.

WHERE THE DIFFERENT SEAWEEDS GROW

Here is a rough guide to where different seaweeds can be found in the tidal zone. Some of them, like wracks, can be found from nearly high tide down to below low tide. Others, like sea lettuce, have a smaller range. Keep in mind that many may be just beneath your feet, hidden by the tide – another reason why low tide is the best time for exploring. Spring tides occur twice a month, around the new and full moon.

SPRING TIDE – HIGH

SPRING TIDE – LOW

ALWAYS UNDER WATER

HIGH TIDE

LOW TIDE

DULSE

SEA SPAGHETTI

SUGAR KELPS

FOREST KELPS

SEAGRASS

GUT WEED

SEA LETTUCE

WRACKS

NORI/LAVER

Here is a rough guide to where different seaweeds can be found in the tidal zone. Some of them, like wracks, can be found from nearly high tide down to below low tide. Others, like sea lettuce, have a smaller range. Keep in mind that many may be just beneath your feet, hidden by the tide - another reason why low tide is the best time for exploring. Spring tides occur twice a month, around the new and full moon.

WHERE THE DIFFERENT SEAWEEDS GROW

USING SEAWEED IN YOUR KITCHEN

USING SEAWEED IN YOUR GARDEN

SEAWEED BUTTER

OTHER IDEAS

Seaweed is full of minerals and nutrients, and can be used in lots of ways. First, you need to dry your foraged seaweed – peg it to your washing line on a sunny day, until it’s crisp. Then, break it up into bits and store in a jar, ready for eating. You can grind seaweed into flakes or sprinkles, or use bits of it in soup. Seaweed makes everything yummy!

You can use foraged seaweed straight-up on your garden as mulch – to protect the soil and add nutrients as it breaks down. Or try placing seaweed underneath potatoes when you plant them – they will love it. Another idea is making seaweed fertilizer tea – head to www.milkwood.net for a DIY recipe in the seaweed section.

Take some flaked, dried sea lettuce, or some powdered kelp, and stir it through butter with a fork. Spread thickly on bread, and eat it all up.

Add to crackers, soups, stews, pasta sauce, and salads. You can also pickle larger kelp fronds in slices.

Words by Kirsten Bradley + Illustrations by Brenna Quinlan Based on the seaweed chapter of the book ‘Milkwood’

www.milkwood.net

The ‘holdfast’ secures it to a rock (or another seaweed). The ‘stipe’ is usually very solid and strong, and the ‘blades’ and ‘bladders’ (if present in that species) grow from the central stipe. Because the world of seaweed is so diverse, many species miss out on some or all of these parts. Don’t worry, you’ll soon get to know your local seaweeds!

Before foraging seaweed, always check with your local council to find out what’s allowable in your area.

THE BASIC PARTS OF SEAWEED

BLADES

STIPE

HOLDFAST