In order to contribute to the development of seaweed farming in the province of Quebec, Merinov, in collaboration with the University of Quebec at Rimouski, is working within the framework of the interregional program OPTIMAL launched in 2014, to search for sites with environmental characteristics corresponding to the optimal growth parameters of sweet kelp (Saccharina latissima) and long-stipe kelp (Saccharina longicruris). Various brown seaweed cultivation trials have been carried out in recent years. In 2018, a mapping of potential sites was established on the basis of already existing biotic and abiotic data.
Thus, in Gaspésie, sea production trials were carried out on six selected sites, namely Cap-d’Espoir, Gascons, Gaspé, Newport, Paspébiac and Bonaventure from 2018 to 2019. The kelp spawners were collected in the natural environment of each of the selected sites. The production of kelp seedlings was carried out in aquariums in Merinov’s laboratories and at the "Fermes Marines du Québec" hatchery. The sporulation and seeding of the collectors were done in August 2018. On each site, when possible, the seedlings of two strains were deployed at the time of the immersion of the seaweed wetting device. The kelp Saccharina longicruris from Bonaventure and the kelp Saccharina latissima from local environments of each site were used. The cords of the seedlings were rolled up at different positions on the wetting device. The seaweed was collected during the period from April 2019 to June 2019. Environmental and biomass data were collected.
