Canopies of seaweed, as formed in seaweed aquaculture, have the potential to attenuate hydrodynamic energy from waves and currents by exerting drag forces on the water column and thereby may offer co-benefits to adjacently located marine infrastructure such as offshore wind farms, other aquaculture types (e.g., finfish), or coastlines by altering and thus potentially improving the hydrodynamic conditions.

To harness these co-benefits, improved prediction of hydrodynamic energy attenuation by seaweed aquaculture is required that accounts for different seaweed types of commercial interest, different farming techniques and various possible layouts. Current literature has reported contrasting findings regarding the hydrodynamic attenuation potential of seaweed aquaculture, ranging from negligible to considerable attenuation of hydrodynamic energy.

After synthesizing information of existing studies on the governing mechanisms and parameters as well as modelling approaches for hydrodynamic attenuation by seaweed, this project will generate new data by a comprehensive experimental program consisting of flume experiments, field studies and numerical modelling.

This approach will result in robust predictive tools and guidelines for assessing the hydrodynamic energy attenuation potential of various seaweed aquaculture locations and species around ANZ, that can be used by engineers. Thereby, operations can be optimized to harness the hydrodynamic energy attenuation potential maximally, e.g., by optimal harvest timing, layout planning and site selection. This assessment of co-benefits will promote the growing and high potential sustainable seaweed aquaculture industry of ANZ and will enable assisting sustainable coastal management as well as sustainable energy and food production.