Watch now: Undaria harvesting
Marinova harvests Undaria pinnatifida, commonly known as wakame, from the remote and pristine oceans of Tasmania and Patagonia. Undaria is a brown seaweed that inhabits coastal waters to depths of approximately 20 metres. It is typically found in sheltered reef areas with conditions such as temperature, available nutrients, light and depth all being important variables in the life cycle of the seaweed. Sporophylls produce up to 100 million spores which then settle and grow into new individuals. Undaria can reach approximately 2 m in length in less than one year and growth rates can be up to 1 cm per day – making the species a rapidly renewable marine resource.
Undaria is hand-harvested by professional divers when the seaweed reaches the peak of its growth cycle, usually during springtime. Each seaweed is then inspected for any foreign matter, such as shells and crustaceans, before the Undaria sporophyll (known as mekabu) is separated from the blade (known as wakame). The fresh seaweed is hung on racks and sun-dried to preserve its unique bioactive compounds, including fucoidan.
Marinova's annual harvest of Undaria is currently underway in Tasmania and Patagonia. Dive in to the video clip below as the company's Business Development Manager, Mr Rod Shelley, outlines the key stages of the process.