Seaweed ecosystems, particularly kelp, are essential to British Columbia’s (BC) environment, economy and culture. They provide vital ecological services, such as offering habitat and food for marine species, improving water quality and protecting shorelines from erosion. Kelp farming is a growing industry which also represents an opportunity for Indigenous people to align community-based economic development with their environmental stewardship, and self-determination principles.

However, BC’s kelp beds are under increasing threat from environmental and biological challenges, exacerbated by climate change and kelp ranges are receding in many areas of BC.

Kelp restoration and kelp farming rely on a steady supply of seeds from wild kelp populations, but climate change is reducing and delaying the availability of viable wild seeds. Biobanks that store reproductive material long term offer a promising solution as they enable cultivation and restoration efforts independent of seasonal wild seed availability. Biobanks also play a critical role in safeguarding genetic biodiversity, providing a resource for restoration and ensuring the future resilience of kelp populations. Despite these benefits, BC’s kelp biobanking efforts are currently fragmented, with limited genetic data on stored cultures—over 85% remain un-sequenced. This lack of information hampers efforts to improve preservation techniques and maintain genetic diversity, which is crucial for avoiding inbreeding and ensuring kelp resilience to environmental stressors.

To address these challenges, a research team from North Island College, Hakai Institute, Cascadia Seaweed Ltd. and others will:

a) genotype existing kelp cultures,

b) generate an open-access database of preserved genetic variability, laying the foundations for identifying ecologically significant and resilient kelp populations, and

c) establish a decentralized biobank network to ensure availability of reliable, viable and diverse seed stock for restoration and cultivation.

This network will include standardized procedures and open access to genetic data and germplasm cultures, empowering everyone interested with the necessary tools for sustainable cultivation and restoration. This collaboration will advance kelp conservation, restoration efforts and support the blue economy in BC.