Importance of Seaweed in the Climate Change—Seaweed Solution 27
To create more profits, we suggested that this pilot program be combined with the construction/
restoration of a seaweed (kelp forest) A/R CDM project. This would involve the following:
• Constructing/restoring an approximately 0.5-ha pilot farm with perennial brown seaweeds, such as
Saccharina (=Laminaria) japonica, Ecklonia cava, and E. stolonifera
• Establishing a legal organization that supports the trade of carbon credits produced through this
construction and restoration. Such an organization would analyze those credit purchases in detail
while simultaneously gaining practical and technical experience in related CDM businesses
• Observing and evaluating how CDM project activities impact the environment and matters related to
socio-economics
• Designing and managing the build-up of project funds for pilot A/R CDM farms
• Developing, investigating, and promoting the best approach for managing the marine environment,
while also strengthening training programs and giving technical assistance to communities
Individual operators might not have been interested in this pilot study if they did not see that an
additional source of income could be generated from these efforts. However, if new revenues were
simultaneously obtained by trading carbon credits and managing a pilot farm, then local fishermen and
CDM business sectors would recognize the benefits that can ensue. This profit created by the additional
carbon credit trading through the seaweed CDM operation could subsidize incomes of individual operators
directly and be advantageous in both social and environmental service aspects of local communities.
Construction and restoration of the 0.5-ha seaweed farm, which began in May 2009, was scheduled
to take between 24 and 60 months and be completed to a depth of 5 to 10 m. Basic data needed for the
financial analysis model and the selection of target seaweed species were determined after discussions with
experts and local fishermen. Some considerations included the rates of carbon absorption, enhancement
of biodiversity, seawater purification, and additional value from byproducts while the project was active.
This farm was managed to minimize the risk of biomass losses caused by pests, diseases, and typhoons,
and was aimed at maximizing profits, both environmental and economical, through the cultivation of
numerous seaweed species and a multi-stage, integrated aquaculture system.
A.3 Project participants
The host country was Korea, which ratified the Kyoto Protocol in November 2002. Project participants
were from MRI/PNU, located at Busan, Korea (Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil 2, Busan Metro City
46241, Korea). In addition, the stakeholders’ group includes individual fishermen (residents in the
CDM region, i.e., Pyeongsan-1-li, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do), local municipal governments
in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, the Fisheries Cooperation Federation, the Fisheries Association Coop, other stakeholders responsible for emissions reductions, private companies interested in the CDM
project (e.g., POSCO), and countries or local governments who may be responsible for delegated duties
of reduction obligations.
A.4 Technical description of the seaweed A/R CDM project and community surveys
The project activities took place at Pyeongsan-1-li, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do (in front of
Sojukdo), with coordinates of N 34°45’49” E 127°50’10”. In July 2009, characteristics of seaweed
ecology were surveyed in the vicinity to provide baseline information (Table 1). From this, 13 seaweed
species were identified: two greens, three browns, and eight reds. The greatest biomass was measured
from Gelidium amansii, followed by Ulva pertusa and Ecklonia cava. In October 2009, 12 species
were identified (two greens, six browns, and four reds). Sargassum fusiforme (=Hizikia fusiformis)
produced the most biomass, followed by Ishige okamurae and G. amansii. In January 2010, 18 species
were recorded (one green, seven browns, and 10 reds). Biomass was greatest from Sargassum horineri,
Undaria pinnatifida, and G. amansii. The final survey, in April 2010, revealed 16 species (one green,
eight browns, and seven reds), dominated by S. horineri, U. pinnatifida, and I. okamurae. During the
survey period, most of the biomass was produced at a 1-m depth, between the lower intertidal zone and
the subtidal zone.
To create more profits, we suggested that this pilot program be combined with the construction/
restoration of a seaweed (kelp forest) A/R CDM project. This would involve the following:
• Constructing/restoring an approximately 0.5-ha pilot farm with perennial brown seaweeds, such as
Saccharina (=Laminaria) japonica, Ecklonia cava, and E. stolonifera
• Establishing a legal organization that supports the trade of carbon credits produced through this
construction and restoration. Such an organization would analyze those credit purchases in detail
while simultaneously gaining practical and technical experience in related CDM businesses
• Observing and evaluating how CDM project activities impact the environment and matters related to
socio-economics
• Designing and managing the build-up of project funds for pilot A/R CDM farms
• Developing, investigating, and promoting the best approach for managing the marine environment,
while also strengthening training programs and giving technical assistance to communities
Individual operators might not have been interested in this pilot study if they did not see that an
additional source of income could be generated from these efforts. However, if new revenues were
simultaneously obtained by trading carbon credits and managing a pilot farm, then local fishermen and
CDM business sectors would recognize the benefits that can ensue. This profit created by the additional
carbon credit trading through the seaweed CDM operation could subsidize incomes of individual operators
directly and be advantageous in both social and environmental service aspects of local communities.
Construction and restoration of the 0.5-ha seaweed farm, which began in May 2009, was scheduled
to take between 24 and 60 months and be completed to a depth of 5 to 10 m. Basic data needed for the
financial analysis model and the selection of target seaweed species were determined after discussions with
experts and local fishermen. Some considerations included the rates of carbon absorption, enhancement
of biodiversity, seawater purification, and additional value from byproducts while the project was active.
This farm was managed to minimize the risk of biomass losses caused by pests, diseases, and typhoons,
and was aimed at maximizing profits, both environmental and economical, through the cultivation of
numerous seaweed species and a multi-stage, integrated aquaculture system.
A.3 Project participants
The host country was Korea, which ratified the Kyoto Protocol in November 2002. Project participants
were from MRI/PNU, located at Busan, Korea (Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil 2, Busan Metro City
46241, Korea). In addition, the stakeholders’ group includes individual fishermen (residents in the
CDM region, i.e., Pyeongsan-1-li, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do), local municipal governments
in Gyeongsangnam-do Province, the Fisheries Cooperation Federation, the Fisheries Association Coop, other stakeholders responsible for emissions reductions, private companies interested in the CDM
project (e.g., POSCO), and countries or local governments who may be responsible for delegated duties
of reduction obligations.
A.4 Technical description of the seaweed A/R CDM project and community surveys
The project activities took place at Pyeongsan-1-li, Namhae-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do (in front of
Sojukdo), with coordinates of N 34°45’49” E 127°50’10”. In July 2009, characteristics of seaweed
ecology were surveyed in the vicinity to provide baseline information (Table 1). From this, 13 seaweed
species were identified: two greens, three browns, and eight reds. The greatest biomass was measured
from Gelidium amansii, followed by Ulva pertusa and Ecklonia cava. In October 2009, 12 species
were identified (two greens, six browns, and four reds). Sargassum fusiforme (=Hizikia fusiformis)
produced the most biomass, followed by Ishige okamurae and G. amansii. In January 2010, 18 species
were recorded (one green, seven browns, and 10 reds). Biomass was greatest from Sargassum horineri,
Undaria pinnatifida, and G. amansii. The final survey, in April 2010, revealed 16 species (one green,
eight browns, and seven reds), dominated by S. horineri, U. pinnatifida, and I. okamurae. During the
survey period, most of the biomass was produced at a 1-m depth, between the lower intertidal zone and
the subtidal zone.