SIZE:
Up to 2 m long and 50 cm wide.
LIFE EXPECTANCY:
5 to 6 years.
LIFE CYCLE:
To reproduce, sea colander releases spores that generate organisms called gametophytes. These then produce male and female reproductive cells. When they meet, a new sea colander is formed.
Sea colander is a large, dark-brown seaweed characterized by a frond that is riddled with holes. It has a broad midrib and a short, smooth, cylindrical stipe. It adheres to the substrate by means of a holdfast.
Coastal zone, between 10 and 40 m depth, or deeper when the water is sufficiently clear to ensure its development. It is therefore the deepest algae that you will encounter.
Sea colander attaches itself to rocks and between sugar kelp and Atlantic wakame when enough space is available.
Credit: Richard Larocque, photo taken in Les Méchins.
PREYS:
CO2
Solar energy
PREDATORS:
Herbivorous molluscs
Grazing fish
A strange colander
The numerous holes in its frond improve nutrient exchanges by increasing water turbulence against the leaf surface. These holes are, in fact, what has earned it the name sea colander.
MACHINES:
Hand harvesting.
REGULATIONS:
Permit required. Cut the colander with a sharp object, without tearing off the base.
Sieve kelp is a Smarter seafood-listed species.
BENEFITS:
Sea kelp is said to have antioxidant potential.
LET’S COOK:
Sea colander is mainly used to prepare broths. Dried and flaked, it is used as a seasoning, for example in veggie pâté.
It has a rather sharp taste and acts as a natural flavour enhancer.
The waters of the St. Lawrence are known for their good quality. However, as algae absorb the elements present in the water to grow, it is preferable to ensure that the harvesting site is clean before eating this species fresh.
