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Entrepreneur pitches community kelp farm for Santa Barbara Harbor; commission offers staff help on siting
Summary
A local aquaculture grower presented a proposal for a community kelp farm to support education, tourism and local food production. Commissioners and staff asked about funding, curriculum partnerships with SBCC and UCSB, and suggested staff assist with siting and permitting contacts; no formal permits or approvals were requested at the meeting.
Bernard Friedman (presenting as a representative of local shellfish and kelp farming operations) introduced a proposal for a community kelp farm in Santa Barbara waters at the Harbor Commission meeting on Aug. 21. Friedman described more than two decades of shellfish farming experience and recent collaboration with UCSB on Department of Energy grants to grow giant kelp. He said kelp cultivation can support tourism, education, local food production and carbon and nitrogen sequestration.
Friedman said the proposed site would ideally be 50–70 feet deep and on sandy bottom, east of the sewage…
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