Seaweed Biofilters in Australia

The Australian Seaweed Institute is developing a transformational technology for seaweed to protect the Great Barrier Reef. Through a network of seaweed biofilters between the coast and the reef, nitrogen and carbon dioxide would be captured by the seaweed and then harvested for use in products such as biofertiliser.

This circular economy innovation is anticipated to provide a significant opportunity for new jobs and economic development in regional Queensland while improving water quality essential for reef health. The concept design is the first stage in a multiyear project to develop this environmental solution in partnership with Central Queensland University’s Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre in Gladstone.

Jo explains seaweed biofilters on the 2040 live stream

Transcript :

“The other aspect of reef protection is the removal of nitrogen.

So there’s a huge problem for the Great Barrier Reef with the runoff of nitrogen from the land, and that comes from all sorts of sources like agricultural use and other land management practices.

So we’re seeing there’s an opportunity to potentially have a massive row of seaweed bio-filters between the coast and the reef that could actually filter out that nitrogen and help to protect the reef. That would also have the impact–because it draws out carbon dioxide out of the water–it would also have the impact of reducing acidification around those areas too, and to increase the habitat and biodiversity.

So we’re really seeing that as a potential to create a really exciting seaweed circular economy innovation because what that seaweed can then be used for–potentially–is bio-fertiliser back on the agricultural crop on the land. So you’re actually then growing the seaweed in the water to improve water quality, then removing that seaweed and providing it as a bio-fertiliser to protect against further pollution and run off from synthetic fertilisers.

So we’re hoping that that becomes an innovative new solution for the Great Barrier Reef protection as well.”

Watch the full Live 2040 Q&A