Quantifying ecological impacts and changes to ecosystem services as a result of seaweed aquaculture

微藻和大藻（即海藻）的养殖目前约占全球水产养殖总量的20%，并以每年8%的速度迅速增长。海藻产品被广泛应用于制药、化妆品、农业和人类食品等行业。与其他地方一样，英国的海藻养殖近年来有所增长，尽管仍处于起步阶段。继续扩大的两个主要限制是缺乏关于养殖对当地影响的信息，以及对海藻养殖的社会经济和生态效益的评估。该项目将在商业环境中兼顾基础生态学和应用研究，并得到非学术伙伴的大量投入。具体而言，该项目将审查海藻养殖场是否促进了当地的生物多样性，吸引和支持具有重要商业价值的渔业物种，并有助于当地的碳吸收和封存。这项工作还将审查海藻养殖的社会/经济效益和挑战，并将研究结果转化为促进政策和决策。

Cultivation of microalgae and macroalgae (i.e. seaweeds) currently contributes about 20% of total global aquaculture biomass and is rising rapidly at 8% per year. Seaweed products are used by a range of industries including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture and human food. Seaweed farming in the UK, as elsewhere, has increased in recent years, although still in its infancy. Two major limitations to continued expansion relate to a lack of information on the local impacts of cultivation, and an assessment of the socioeconomic and ecological benefits of seaweed farming. This project will operate at the interface between fundamental ecology and applied research within a commercial environment, with significant input from non-academic partners. Specifically, the project will examine whether seaweed farms promote local biodiversity, attract and support commercially-important fisheries species, and contribute to local carbon uptake and sequestration. The work will also examine the social/economic benefits and challenges of seaweed farming and translate the findings to facilitate policy and decision making.