Nova Scotia harvest
Fucus vesiculosus is a brown seaweed typically found along sheltered coastlines of the Northern Hemisphere. Commonly known as bladderwrack, Fucus vesiculosus seaweeds are known for their branching fronds with prominent midrib and conspicuous bladder-like floats. These almost-spherical air sacs support the seaweed to float high in the water, ensuring access to ample sunlight for photosynthesis. When conditions are favourable, Fucus can occur in high densities, forming a dense carpet on the shoreline. Fronds of Fucus plants can grow over 0.5 cm each week eventually reaching sizes of up to 2 m over their five year life span.
Marinova sources wild grown, hand-harvested Fucus vesiculosus from the clean ocean waters of Nova Scotia. All harvesting occurs on an environmentally sustainable basis enabling the robust regrowth of this rapidly renewable marine resource.
Marinova’s Marketing & Communications Manager, Mrs Amanda Mackinnon, recently visited Fucus harvest sites along the Nova Scotian shoreline, spending considerable time on the water with local seaweed harvesters. “This is a beautifully remote and pristine location on the edge of the North Atlantic Ocean, far removed from any potential sites of pollution” explained Mrs Mackinnon. “The quality of the Fucus is exceptional, and it is this high quality raw material that gives rise to Marinova’s superior fucoidan extracts.”
Fucus is collected by hand by skilled local harvesters working from small boats along the Nova Scotian shoreline. Boats can collect up to two tonnes of seaweed at a time. Fresh Fucus is quickly transported to a nearby processing plant, inspected for any foreign objects such as shells and crustaceans, and then sun-dried to preserve the plant and its bioactive compounds.
To learn more about formulating with Marinova’s high purity Fucus vesiculosus extracts, contact us today.