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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Maxine CanvinORCiD, Professor Pip MooreORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2026. Seaweed farming, often regarded as a low-impact aquaculture practice, may deliver ecosystem services like carbon sequestration. Yet, empirical evidence for its climate change mitigation potential is limited. Sediment cores were collected at increasing distances from a seaweed farm in southwest UK and analysed for carbon stocks, carbon sedimentation rates, potential carbon sources, and sediment characteristics. The upper 3 cm of sediment, linked to farming activity, held ~2 t Corg ha−1 with sedimentation rates of 0.23 t Corg ha−1 yr−1. eDNA revealed low, inconsistent contributions of kelp and mussels, while seagrass, red algae, and likely phytoplankton, dominated. The sedimentary environment remained largely unchanged pre- and post-farm establishment or with increasing distance from the farm, highlighting the limited carbon sequestration potential at this scale. Future research should focus on identifying potential carbon sinks through hydrodynamic modelling and sediment analysis to inform the climate-conscious, sustainable industry expansion.
Author(s): Canvin MC, King NG, Moore PJ, Smale DA
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Marine Pollution Bulletin
Year: 2026
Volume: 225
Print publication date: 01/04/2026
Online publication date: 20/01/2026
Acceptance date: 12/01/2026
Date deposited: 02/02/2026
ISSN (print): 0025-326X
ISSN (electronic): 1879-3363
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119283
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2026.119283
Data Access Statement: Data will be made available on request.
PubMed id: 41558449
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