Rare Plant Program

Protect Marine Plants?

PROPOSAL TO CNPS:  EXPAND TAXONAMY OF PLANTS MONITORED AND PROTECTED TO INCLUDE INTERTIDAL MARINE ALGAE (SEAWEED) AND COMMENT DURING THE 2002 OPEN COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE CA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION, WHICH IS CURRENTLY REDRAWING THE MAPS FOR THE MARINE LIFE PROTECTION ACT. 

It is profoundly important at this time that California's intertidal marine algae, several species of which are endemic, be protected. The marine plants, specifically the green algae group, are the ancestor plants of all the land plants, and among these it is the algae in the intertidal zone that are both the most threatened and potentially the most valuable in the future to remediate and/or restore the damage done to native land plants by genetically modified plants (that combine plant, insect and chemical pesticides and herbicides via gene splicing), agribusiness monocultures (lost diversity), and corporate hybrid and terminator/traitor seeds that do not produce viable seeds. Seeds from genetically modified plants, such as StarlinkTM corn have already entered the food supply and Mexico's ancient corn species have recently been contaminated. Pollen from genetically modified plants has infected both traditional and organic field crops, and must also be impacting native plants. There is virtually no way to stop the wind, water, birds and animals from carrying seeds and pollen. In her book, ¡°The Sea Around Us,¡± Rachel Carson notes that seeds can travel at 5000¡¯ elevation in wind currents that run contrary to lower elevations, and that Charles Darwin raised over 80 plants from a single clump of mud he found attached to a sea bird. The government is not responding to very real concerns regarding the impacts these new plants will have on both native plants and food crops. The damage is only just beginning. Yes, we need to question what is going on and try to stop and/or monitor it, and everyone should be saving seeds at this point, but we need a back-up plan. What does this have to do with seaweeds? They are literally and figuratively the line drawn in the sand that defines our ability to remediate the damage. Land plants will not cross-pollinate with marine algae, and genetically modified plants won't grow in the ocean. Future generations may be dependent upon marine plants for a non-polluted food source, and their genes/DNA may be needed to remediate the damage done to land plants and to restore the needed diversity, viability and integrity. Marine algae in the intertidal zone are the best able to adapt to life on land as they are photosynthetic and are regularly exposed to life outside the ocean during low tides.

The California Fish & Game Commission has an open comment period until the end of 2002 on the revision of the Marine Life Protection Act maps that can set aside more areas as Marine Refuges and Conservation Areas. I do realize that the Fish and Game Commission is unlikely to buy into this long-term strategic approach, but there are many other reasons to set aside more areas for conservation. Commercial and individual wildcrafting of edible seaweeds in the intertidal zones has increased dramatically in the past few years. Although individuals can take 10 lbs. per day without a fishing license, and for only a $100 license commercial wildcrafters can take as much as they want, of whatever species they want with no mandated cutting techniques, quotas or seasons. Some of these plants, such as sea palm, are annuals; so not cutting prior to their reproductive season is critical to their survival. Many people cutting seaweed are either ignorant of their growth habits or careless because they want to harvest as much as they can during the few hours of low tide. Some people cut them to the base or take the holdfasts (roots). This is equivalent to killing plants by uprooting them or cutting them off at the soil level, when all you will utilize is the leaves (blades). Many types of animals are dependent upon seaweed for food, homes, spawning, protection from predators and clean water (the algae filters pollution from land sources). The clear cutting of 100 to 200 pounds a day in a cove by a commercial wildcrafter has a serious impact both upon the seaweed itself and the other animals that depend upon it (incidental take).

The demand for seaweed as a human food source has greatly increased in the past ten to twenty years for a number of reasons, although Native Americans have always harvested it (particularly Nori) as a food and medicinal source. Many more people today are looking for ¡°natural,¡± non-genetically modified, or organic foods as an alternative to the corporate sponsored menu. Many more people are becoming vegetarians, for a variety of reasons, and Nori is a surprisingly good source of protein and vitamin B-12 for them. California cuisine chefs, who emphasize fresh local foods, are now incorporating seaweed into their menus, and Japanese cuisine, which commonly utilizes seaweed, is becoming more popular. Kelp has been found to be one of the best natural concentrated sources of iodine. Iodine is useful in treating thyroid imbalances, ridding the body of Stronium-90 acquired through any type of radiation exposure, and preventing the storage of radioactive iodine in the thyroid from medical treatments, occupational exposure, radiation leaks or nuclear weapons. Dr. Helen Caldicott has written that Stronium-90 mimics estrogen in the body and that growing children are the most vulnerable to its impact on bone development. A January 4, 2002 article in the San Francisco Chronicle (page A19) indicated that the United States government has started stockpiling a chemical form of iodine, Potassium iodide, in preparation against a nuclear attack or accident at a nuclear power plant. Any sort of nuclear incident could so for Kelp sales what the anthrax scare did for CiproTM sales. Seaweed is also a great emergency food source should food supply or distribution lines ever fail during any type of disaster.

Due to increased demand for seaweed as food and medicine, and expanded markets via the internet, commercial wildcrafting has become attractive financially, is a very cheap business to start up, and there is nothing to stop large food corporations or pharmaceuticals companies from coming in and clear cutting the forests of the sea. Also, although seaweed may not be in large demand here, it is in other countries. Under the World Trade Agreement rules, environmental protection laws have repeatedly been stricken down as free trade barriers; we would have no way to defend extensive destruction if foreign or domestic corporate interests moved in on California's seaweed. Many of the mushrooms wildcrafted in the Pacific Northwest are sold in Japan and wildcrafting has become so competitive that there have been gun fights and large corporations now hire migrant farm workers to collect mushrooms. This could easily happen with intertidal seaweed harvesting, and we actually have a chance at preventing it before it happens. Typically only commercial interests speak at Fish and Game Commission meetings; no one speaks for the plants, and these are native plants. Commercial harvesters are literally writing the laws that would regulate their own business in Oregon at this time. These intertidal marine plants need to be protected in the current round of map revisions, as the maps may not be revised for another ten years, and by then it may be too late. It is already too late in many areas of southern California, but there is a good chance of protecting viable populations of these native plants along the central and northern California coasts.

It is my hope that CNPS, or at least some members, will take the time to write or speak at the Fish and Game Commission meetings this year. The Commission meeting location varies throughout the state during the year, and you may check their schedule with your local office, or go to their web site. Write to: Robert Treanor, Executive Director, California Fish and Game Commission, Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090.

I would also like CNPS to consider expanding their taxonomy to include at least the intertidal marine algae, as they are in need of help, are accessible, and could be a very valuable resource in the future. The offshore Kelp beds are leased on a bidding basis, with the leased areas already assigned. These offshore Kelp beds are home to larger marine life that also depend upon marine algae for habitat and food. I am looking into the possibility of having non-profit groups purchase leases as they become available, pay an averaged royalty, and then not cut as a method of conservation, or possibly cut minimally and make very low cost kelp tablets available to children, food banks, or people who have received radiation treatment as a food supplement. Are there any other ideas out there?

Melinda McComb
P.O. Box 1105
Trinidad, CA 95570
melinda_mccombyahoo.com
(I only check email twice a week)