Bioremediation of point source discharges is an established concept overseas both at research and commercial scales. However, this facility will be the first diffuse source seaweed bioremediation facility in New Zealand, and potentially globally as well with international commercial facilities based on point source effluents (e.g. aquaculture farm discharge outlets).
The seaweed provides dual benefits through nutrient removal, which is a product of the seaweed assimilating dissolved nutrients into its tissue during biomass growth, which when harvested is removed from the system. Thus delivering a high quality single species biomass for product development and feedstock for aquaculture farmers e.g biostimulants and animal feeds/supplements. The use of inorganic fertilizers (N & P) on farms in NZ causes coastal and riverine/estuary nutrient enrichment due to the amount of nutrient run-off during rainfall and irrigation. This causes issues within these environments, overwhelming the species found within these ecosystems. The bioremedial process buffers the impact of land-based industries on adjacent marine ecosystems supporting healthy productive coastal ecosystems and conserving natural ecosystem services e.g. fish nursery grounds and nutrient cycling. The by-product of this activity is cleaner water.