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Farmers

Seaweed Solution for Shellfish Farms Hinges on Innovative Agriculture Initiative

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Alden Davis, a shellfish farmer in Washington state, wades through the waters of Thorndyke Bay to inspect his 30-acre farm, where he's been cultivating oysters, clams, and geoducks for 35 years. However, an overabundance of Ulva, a native seaweed, has been suffocating his shellfish, causing mortalities and financial losses. Researchers at the University of Washington have been working to turn this problem into a solution by developing a soil amendment for vegetable farms using excess seaweed. The project, Blue Carbon, Green Fields, has been in limbo since the USDA canceled its funding in 2025, but project leaders are determined to revive the initiative.

Key Takeaways:

  • Baywater Shellfish has been struggling with an overabundance of Ulva, a native seaweed, which has been suffocating their shellfish and causing mortalities.
  • Researchers at the University of Washington have been working on a project to develop a soil amendment for vegetable farms using excess seaweed from shellfish farms.
  • The project, Blue Carbon, Green Fields, has removed over 17,000 pounds of seaweed from shellfish beds and applied it to crops on four local farms.
  • Early data suggests a significant economic benefit to the project, with nearly 70 farms expressing interest in participating in the second year.
  • The project team developed a prototype raft-based system to accelerate seaweed removal, but the funding was canceled by the USDA in 2025.
  • Project leaders are searching for alternative funding and working with the USDA to potentially tweak the project to fit the Trump administration's priorities.

Statistics:

  • 30 acres of shellfish farm operated by Alden Davis.
  • 35 years of experience running the farm.
  • 17,000 pounds of seaweed removed from shellfish beds and applied to crops in the first year.
  • 70 farms expressed interest in participating in the second year.
  • $5 million awarded to the project by the U.S. Department of Agriculture over five years.
  • $3 billion allocated to Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, which funded Blue Carbon, Green Fields.

Sources:

  • University of Washington
  • Baywater Shellfish
  • Puget Sound Restoration Fund
  • Washington Sea Grant
  • Washington State University
  • Viva Farms
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

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