Rising Brothers

Natural seaweed ecosystems are sometimes under threat from human activity. For example, mechanical dredging of kelp destroys the resource and dependent fisheries.

Other forces also threaten some seaweed ecosystems; a wasting disease in predators of purple urchins has led to a urchin population surge which destroyed large kelp forest regions off the coast of California.

The seaweed plant is then harvested and dried for use. Seaweed can be used for various purposes, such as food, cosmetics, fertilizers, and biofuel. In India, seaweed is mainly used as manure for crops like rice and maize