A red seaweed commonly known as Sea Salad is the latest proposed addition to Australia’s official Aquatic Plant Names Standard.
In Greece, the delicate fronds of Sea Salad – members of the Polysiphonia species – have been harvested for centuries. The seaweed is commonly soaked in vinegar before being added to salads. In the EU, research is underway to commercialise Polysiphonia as a food ingredient under the commercial name SeaGem.
In Australia, there is interest in Polysiphonia as a food, an aquaculture feed and for its biomedical properties – research in South Korea has identified that its species have antibacterial properties, making it a candidate for further biomedical research.
There are about 200 species of Polysiphonia worldwide, with 18 species identified in Australia, according to the Atlas of Living Australia. It is commonly found on rocky shorelines and growing on marine infrastructure, including aquaculture lines.
Public consultation is underway on whether Polysiphonia species, with the common name Sea Salad, should be added to the Standard and will close on 20 August 2024. Comments can be submitted online to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation’s (FRDC) Aquatic Plant Names Committee.
Polysiphonia species found in Tasmania. Photos: Kim Finney, iNaturalist
FRDC manages the naming Standard, which includes both water plants and algal species. FRDC says the Standard aims to support Australia’s emerging seaweed and aquatic plant sectors by:
· enhancing marketability and consumer confidence
· eliminating misleading and deceptive conduct
· improving labelling, traceability and species identification
· providing superior management of seafood-related public health incidents and food safety
· reducing public health risks
· facilitating efficient product recall or withdrawal procedures.
More information: Aquatic Plant Names Standard
