1Vanessa M. Skrzypczyk, 2Damien L. Callahan, 3David S. Francis and 1Alecia Bellgrove.
1Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Warrnambool Campus, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia,
2Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Burwood Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia,
3Deakin University, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Waurn Ponds Campus, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
By the year 2030 aquatic farming is predicted to provide 93 MT of the world’s seafood supply, with aquatic plant farming being the only aquaculture practice that does not contribute to the widespread nutrification of coastal waters. Interest in the potential to both farm and wild-harvest seaweeds in Australia is rapidly increasing. Seaweeds are rich sources of dietary trace minerals and essential elements that are often not found in terrestrial edible plant foods. However, due to the high affinity for mineral and contaminant accumulation by seaweeds, it is important to conduct in depth studies on Australian seaweeds that have edible potential and are being considered for sustainable aquaculture or wild harvest. This study screened 6 Australian fucoid and laminarian brown seaweeds for the presence of 70 elements, of which 50 were quantified. Replicate samples of each species were collected from 3 ‘clean’ Victorian sites (classified based on their remoteness to urbanisation and potential pollution sources) and processed consistent with methods for human consumption. Dried and ground samples were analysed by ICP-MS and concentrations of 15 key dietary minerals were compared amongst species and locations. Results will be discussed in the context of the potential health benefits from consuming the species studied in realistic quantities.