CEI press release
In June a delegation of 15 professionals from the United States visited Hokkaido, Japan to study the Japanese wild and farm-raised kelp industry. The group focused their time primarily in the Hakodate region known for being Japan’s epicenter of kelp. Hokkaido, the largest of Japan’s islands and the northernmost prefecture, has a climate and seasonality similar to Maine and is rooted in natural resource-based economies. Three lobstermen — Bob Baines from South Thomaston, Nathan Johnson from Long Island, and Keith Miller from Spruce Head — took part.
Kelp drying at a farm in Japan. The Japan Times photo.
The exchange was made possible by a grant from the Builders Initiative to Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI). “Technology transfer is one of the fastest ways to build, support, and ramp up an industry,” said delegation member and trip co-organizer Hugh Cowperthwaite, senior program director of fisheries and aquaculture for CEI. “By spending time in Japan, our hope was to gain first-hand experience meeting with growers, wild harvesters, and processors to learn how kelp is grown, harvested, and made into various products in order to continue our work in Maine diversifying Maine’s coastal economy.”
Japan’s kelp and seaweed industry traces back to the mid-17th century. Japan is a leader in using kelp in their cuisine, and the group met with chefs, fishermen, growers, processors, retailers, restaurateurs, and scientists during the trip. The delegation included Keiichiro Hamano, CEO of Japan Fishing Machine, LLC, and trip co-organizer. Hamano-san has helped the group establish connections in Japan and is uniquely positioned and qualified to serve as the group’s knowledgeable host and guide.
“The U.S. kelp industry is still relatively young and while Maine and Atlantic Sea Farms represent the majority of farmed seaweed in the U.S., our production is still very small as compared to Japan, and we have a lot to learn in order to continue to sustainably scale the industry,” said Briana Warner, president and CEO of Atlantic Sea Farms. “We are incredibly excited to learn from the Japanese as we work to grow opportunities for our fishing communities in Maine and elsewhere in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Kelp farming is one of the key ways that we can create economic resilience on our coast.”
Cowperthwaite and Hamano-san had worked on logistics for the 8-day trip since they met in person in January 2023. “We are excited to share our industry with Maine and it goes both ways. Japan’s industry will benefit from meeting with kelp industry from other part of the world,” said Hamano-san.