Seaweeds
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Seaweeds are a constant element of coastal Maine, often overlooked and underappreciated. In recent years however, the commercial harvesting of seaweeds has brought newsworthy attention to these organisms and their ecological and economic significance.
This colloquy will delve into questions surrounding the place of seaweeds in our lives. What are seaweeds in a biological and ecological sense? What are the commercial uses of seaweeds – now and in the future? How have seaweeds affected our ecological ethos? How have artists viewed seaweeds?
David Porter is a retired professor of Plant Biology who still maintains his youthful fascination with what can be found along these rocky shores.
Syllabus/Reading
Syllabus
October 29: Biology of seaweeds
Read:
Shetterly, 2018, Seaweed Chronicles: a world at the water’s edge, Ch 1 and 2, (but you probably won’t want to stop there!). Available from Blue Hill and Brooklin Libraries
Carson, 1955, The Edge of The Sea, Ch 3 The Rocky Shore, p 39 -103
available at https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Edge_of_the_Sea/EMEKAQAAIAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover or from either library
Mouritsen, 2013, Seaweeds: Edible, Available and Sustainable, pp 5 – 65
available from Brooklin Library
November 5: Fresh seaweeds and seaweeds in art
Observations of live seaweeds, preparation of specimens to mount and dry
Read:
Iselin, 2014, An Ocean Garden: the secret life of seaweed, available from Blue Hill Library
Collect seaweeds to show at the discussion
November 12: Commercial uses of seaweeds
Seaweed products, aquaculture and natural harvesting
Read:
Shetterly, Ch 3 -12; Mouritsen, pp 68 – 112 and 204 – 231
November 19: Seaweed Harvesting on the Maine Coast
property rights and legal battles
Read:
Shetterly, ch 9
Maine Supreme Court Decision: Ross, et al. vs Acadian Seaplants, Ltd.
http://nsglc.olemiss.edu/blog/2019/apr/5/index.html https://www.courts.maine.gov/opinions_orders/supreme/lawcourt/2019/19me045.pdf
Readings:
The following books will be useful for background information:
Rachel Carson, The Edge of the Sea 1955
Josie Iselin, An Ocean Garden: the Secret Life of Seaweed, 2014
Ole Mouritsen, Seaweeds: edible, available and sustainable, 2013
Susan Shetterly, Seaweed Chronicles: a World at the Water’s Edge, 2018
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