The Rising Tide By John Boit The Blue Hill Peninsula Rockweed Forum recently sent The Rising Tide a video showcasing rockweed, the ubiquitous algae that looks like a plant and grows up and down the coast of Maine. The Rockweed Forum was founded by ... Read More
Commentary
Local scientists raise concerns about commercial rockweed harvesting (12/2/25)
Article in the Mount Desert Islander Local scientists raise concerns about commercial rockweed harvesting By Rebecca Alley Dec 2, 2025 BLUE HILL PENINSULA — Local scientists are raising concerns about the lack of research regarding the ... Read More
Can seaweed be organic? (5/30/2025)
The answer depends on who you ask. Maine Monitor article by Julia Tilton. https://themainemonitor.org/can-seaweed-be-organic/ ... Read More
Working Waterfront, “A life in seaweed” (2/14/25)
Commentary from wild seaweed harvester Larch Hanson, Maine Seaweed (theseaweedman.com), in Gouldsboro Bay The Working Waterfront https://www.islandinstitute.org/working-waterfront/a-life-in-seaweed-seen-from-inside/ A life in ... Read More
Rockweed harvesting raises local concerns. . . (11/12/24)
This article also appeared in the Ellsworth American on 11/13/24. ... Read More
Stronger regulations needed for rockweed harvesting (10/29/24)
The following letter was submitted to the Portland Press Herald from David Porter and Allison Snow. "We are writing in response to the Oct. 15 letter by Jake Patryn, Acadian Seaplants’ director of operations in Maine (“Rockweed industry backs ... Read More
BDN Letter – Beach access case and rockweed harvesting (7/16/24)
"I think focusing attention on beach access is a classic distraction away from the plaintiffs’ desire to have unfettered commercial access to Maine’s underwater rockweed forest." Letter by David Porter in the Bangor Daily News July 16, ... Read More
Hakai Magazine features rockweed forest (7/5/24)
"Here is a photo of the rockweed forest on the coast of Maine where I live." by David Porter (link to Hakai Magazine with this featured post) ... Read More
Letter in the Ellsworth American, “Rockweed risk vs. reward” (3/7/24)
Mark Harris writes that industrial-scale rockweed harvesting poses a risk for fish and wildlife and is not properly regulated. Dear Editor: “In the weeds: Seaweed proves a valuable cash crop” was the lead article in the insert on Hancock County’s ... Read More
Letter in the Ellsworth American, “Rockweed is not kelp” (3/7/24)
David Porter discusses kelp farming vs. harvesting of wild rockweed, and why it is important to protect rockweed from over-harvesting. Dear Editor: I was pleased to see promotion of seaweed aquaculture in the article “In the weeds” [Ellsworth ... Read More