Hola MaHigh-School - November 2019

is not going to be a challenge. According to
nutritionists, kelp is often considered a ‘superfood’
due to its significant mineral content of
iodine (important for optimal thyroid function
and metabolism).
Kelps, in terms of ocean gardening, is a crop
that requires planting and harvesting, just like
any other plant, but with very little work in
between. Moreover, it needs no fertilizing, no
weed control, no watering, and it has very few
‘enemies’ in the form of pests or disease.
However, ‘planting’ is quite an unmerited term
for the production of kelps.
Kelps can disappear and reappear based on
the oceanographic conditions and the population
sizes of their primary herbivores.
Did you know?
Kelps are large brown algae seaweeds that
grows in “underwater forests” (kelp forests)
in shallow oceans, The organisms require
nutrient-rich water with temperatures between
6 and 14 °C They are known for their
high growth rate and can grow as fast as
half a metre a day, ultimately reaching 30 to
80 metres
Warmer than normal summers and seasonal
changes to currents that bring fewer nutrients
to kelp forests (both sometimes occurring naturally)
combine to weaken kelps and threaten
their survival.