Internship Integrating seaweed cultivation with large-scale offshore floating structures
To contribute to the sustainable food transition, to make efficient use of the ‘crowded’ Dutch North Sea and to enhance biodiversity there is an increasing interest for stimulating the low-trophic aquaculture sector in the Netherlands. We look at the potential of offshore seaweed cultivation in combination with large-scale floating infrastructure in the Dutch North Sea. This is part of the NWA project Floating Future (https://floating-future.nl/).
Description
Specifically culturing seaweed in combination with other infrastructure might have practical benefits in terms of logistics, transportation costs and efficient use of space. However, a lot of questions remain. For example, how do different seaweed species respond to the rough offshore environment? What is the impact of limited light availability on the quality and growth of seaweed? What is the impact of seaweed farms on biodiversity? How much CO2, nitrogen, phosphate and other minerals can seaweed farms sequester? Answers to these questions are important in order to understand the potential of offshore seaweed cultivation in combination with floating structures in the Dutch North Sea.
Requirements and application
We seek HBO or WO (master)students interested in either ecology/biology of seaweeds or in the social or spatial use of these seaweed farms in offshore environments. Experiments are generally quite hands-on and practically oriented.
The work will be done at the department Estuarine and Delta Systems NIOZ (https://www.nioz.nl/en/about/eds) in Yerseke, Zeeland. Any internship has a minimum duration of 4 months.
For more information and to apply, please contact PhD candidate Vera Hartman (vera.hartman@nioz.nl).