USC Opens Nuzhdin Aquaculture Lab and Holdfast Aquaculture Lab at AltaSea
Open water swimmers often run into it. People around the world eat it. The world’s marine environment depends on it.
Seaweed…kelp.
AltaSea and the University of Southern California (USC) officially opened a seaweed lab on the AltaSea campus in San Pedro, California on March 7th. The lab will conduct research on regenerative aquaculture as well as aquafarming technologies.
The Nuzhdin Research Laboratory marks the beginning of a promising partnership between the nonprofit and USC’s Dr. Sergey Nuzhdin. With the support of NOAA Sea Grant and the United States Department of Agriculture, Dr. Nuzhdin and his team will investigate ways to sustainably expand aquaculture in the United States, particularly the cultivation of bivalves and kelp. Part of this research involves improving the commercial production of seaweeds through establishing best practices in breeding and cultivation in order to protect the genetic diversity of kelp.
The Holdfast Aquaculture Lab was also opened on March 7th. With organizations from the same sector in one facility, it will be easier to enable and meet goals that involve cooperative efforts on engaging local youth, training future sustainable aquafarmers, and developing mentorship programs for student researchers. This spirit of scientific collaboration is at the root of AltaSea’s mission to connect diverse ocean experts in order to accelerate the blue economy.
Photo above by Taso Papadakis. Video of the AltaSea Ribbon Cutting of the USC Nuzhdin Research Lab and The Holdfast Aquaculture Lab @ AltaSea.
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