Dutch seaweed farmers boast first offshore mechanical harvest

Dutch seaweed farmers boast first offshore mechanical harvest

Source: The Fish Site

8/8/2022

Dutch seaweed farmers boast first offshore mechanical harvest

Credit: Harald Bjorgvin, Ocean Rainforest

Netherlands-based North Sea Farmers says it has completed the world’s first mechanical harvest of an offshore seaweed farm, marking an important milestone in the development of Europe’s seaweed industry
The site is located some 12 km off the Dutch coast. North Sea Farmers has been growing kelp on netting hanging below a 50-metre plastic tube that was floating on the water’s surface and held in place by buoys and two anchors on the sea floor.

According to the BBC, North Sea Farmers converted a fishing boat into a mechanical harvester. The boat positioned itself alongside the plastic tube and an 8-metre tall, electric-powered cutting arm moved into the water. It pulled up the tubing and sliced the long strands of seaweed from the 2-metre in width net. The seaweed was then automatically bagged and dropped onto the deck.