26 Marine Macro- and Microalgae: An Overview
(MRI) of the Institute for Research and Industry Cooperation (IRIC) at Pusan National University (PNU),
through an initiative for “Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Using Seaweeds”. This seaweed
CO 2 sink farm was built as a mid-water long-line culture system along the southern coast of Korea
(Chung et al. 2013). The designated area, within a coastal environment, had muddy-sand sediment at the
bottom and previously lacked aquatic vegetation. The site did not involve any land- or coastal-based uses
related to fisheries products.
Purpose of the pilot project: Using carbon credits from CDM projects, we hope to secure the economic
status of this business interest while also contributing to the sustainable development of our country by
preserving and restoring coastal ecosystems. In doing so, we can take steps toward coping with climate
change and implement a green growth policy that utilizes seaweed resources. Activities within this pilot
project should improve water quality and preserve fisheries resources in the southern coastal environment
of Korea. Measures can be developed for reducing GHG emissions and mitigating global warming.
Projects such as these are reasonably conducted through policies that are fully compliant with standards
recommended by various environmental groups. Moreover, we can identify ways to minimize any conflicts
within those groups. Our two primary objectives are (1) to mitigate climate change by reducing GHG
emissions through greater biomass production and (2) to increase incomes in local communities through
short-term job creation, while improving the sustainable harvest of additional, subsidiary seaweed farm
products in the mid-term.
To attain these objectives, we included the following components: installing a plantation of Ecklonia
cava, Saccharina japonica, and E. stolonifera for ecosystem restoration that would not involve harvesting;
increasing awareness and improving technical assistance to local residents by operating a seaweed farm
for conservation and sustainability; and monitoring and managing the implementation of this project over
its entire life span.
Contribution to sustainable development: This project should contribute not only to environmental
protection, but also to socio-economic improvement in coastal areas by building capacity for residents
and creating opportunities for employment. Several scheduled events would enhance the knowledge base
for local communities on environmental conservation, seaweed restoration, and management. Short-term
employment would be available during the implementation of the project and throughout its phase of
monitoring. A seaweed farm was expected to improve water quality, leading to a potential ecosystem
service and better fisheries resources that might increase incomes for local fishermen. Various project
activities were planned to provide several benefits, as outlined below.
Establishing and restoring kelp forests through pilot A/R farms can help maintain and gradually
improve marine biodiversity in several ways. First, the successful, intensive cultivation of massive
seaweed communities provides sufficient food and habitat for marine animals. This leads to better
fisheries stocks and eventually increases the potential for marine biodiversity in waters near the project
site. Second, the effects of several threats to the marine environment can be mitigated or neutralized, so
that the project areas are no longer barren. This is manifested in the natural and spontaneous enhancement
of ocean resources and may attract other marine life to the area, ultimately increasing local fisheries
stocks. Third, greater production of seaweed biomass means that more CO 2 can be removed, thereby
reducing the acidity of surrounding waters through photosynthetic activity. Lowering the levels of ocean
acidification also promotes marine biodiversity and abundance.
This farming project should encourage the development of new streams of income and increased
revenues for fishermen and other participants. The gradual rise in incomes is accomplished in several
ways. First, fisheries resources are enhanced through improvements to the marine environment. This
contributes to the maintenance of a stable income for fishermen’s households and can help develop
the local economy by increasing yield landings and reducing deviations in the catch. Second, the
farms provide a sink for absorbed CO 2 , allowing participants to trade carbon credits achieved through
reductions in GHG emissions. Therefore, business conducted via this CDM can be a source of economic
development. Shared profits can also be allocated to participating economic agents, which will help raise
the incomes of local communities.
(MRI) of the Institute for Research and Industry Cooperation (IRIC) at Pusan National University (PNU),
through an initiative for “Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction Using Seaweeds”. This seaweed
CO 2 sink farm was built as a mid-water long-line culture system along the southern coast of Korea
(Chung et al. 2013). The designated area, within a coastal environment, had muddy-sand sediment at the
bottom and previously lacked aquatic vegetation. The site did not involve any land- or coastal-based uses
related to fisheries products.
Purpose of the pilot project: Using carbon credits from CDM projects, we hope to secure the economic
status of this business interest while also contributing to the sustainable development of our country by
preserving and restoring coastal ecosystems. In doing so, we can take steps toward coping with climate
change and implement a green growth policy that utilizes seaweed resources. Activities within this pilot
project should improve water quality and preserve fisheries resources in the southern coastal environment
of Korea. Measures can be developed for reducing GHG emissions and mitigating global warming.
Projects such as these are reasonably conducted through policies that are fully compliant with standards
recommended by various environmental groups. Moreover, we can identify ways to minimize any conflicts
within those groups. Our two primary objectives are (1) to mitigate climate change by reducing GHG
emissions through greater biomass production and (2) to increase incomes in local communities through
short-term job creation, while improving the sustainable harvest of additional, subsidiary seaweed farm
products in the mid-term.
To attain these objectives, we included the following components: installing a plantation of Ecklonia
cava, Saccharina japonica, and E. stolonifera for ecosystem restoration that would not involve harvesting;
increasing awareness and improving technical assistance to local residents by operating a seaweed farm
for conservation and sustainability; and monitoring and managing the implementation of this project over
its entire life span.
Contribution to sustainable development: This project should contribute not only to environmental
protection, but also to socio-economic improvement in coastal areas by building capacity for residents
and creating opportunities for employment. Several scheduled events would enhance the knowledge base
for local communities on environmental conservation, seaweed restoration, and management. Short-term
employment would be available during the implementation of the project and throughout its phase of
monitoring. A seaweed farm was expected to improve water quality, leading to a potential ecosystem
service and better fisheries resources that might increase incomes for local fishermen. Various project
activities were planned to provide several benefits, as outlined below.
Establishing and restoring kelp forests through pilot A/R farms can help maintain and gradually
improve marine biodiversity in several ways. First, the successful, intensive cultivation of massive
seaweed communities provides sufficient food and habitat for marine animals. This leads to better
fisheries stocks and eventually increases the potential for marine biodiversity in waters near the project
site. Second, the effects of several threats to the marine environment can be mitigated or neutralized, so
that the project areas are no longer barren. This is manifested in the natural and spontaneous enhancement
of ocean resources and may attract other marine life to the area, ultimately increasing local fisheries
stocks. Third, greater production of seaweed biomass means that more CO 2 can be removed, thereby
reducing the acidity of surrounding waters through photosynthetic activity. Lowering the levels of ocean
acidification also promotes marine biodiversity and abundance.
This farming project should encourage the development of new streams of income and increased
revenues for fishermen and other participants. The gradual rise in incomes is accomplished in several
ways. First, fisheries resources are enhanced through improvements to the marine environment. This
contributes to the maintenance of a stable income for fishermen’s households and can help develop
the local economy by increasing yield landings and reducing deviations in the catch. Second, the
farms provide a sink for absorbed CO 2 , allowing participants to trade carbon credits achieved through
reductions in GHG emissions. Therefore, business conducted via this CDM can be a source of economic
development. Shared profits can also be allocated to participating economic agents, which will help raise
the incomes of local communities.