Seaweed aquaculture has minimal direct animal welfare concerns and provides ecosystem services benefiting marine animal welfare.
Seaweed farming represents one of the most welfare-positive forms of aquaculture because the organisms farmed are not sentient and the habitat created benefits numerous wild animals. Kelp forests support complex food webs providing habitat for fish, invertebrates, marine mammals and seabirds. Marine animals living in and around seaweed farms benefit from the increased habitat complexity and food availability. As part of a diversified, sustainable aquaculture sector, seaweed farming contributes to reducing pressure on wild fisheries, indirectly benefiting wild animal welfare through reduced fishing pressure.