240516003690 - Collection of beach washed out kelp on shoreline in Luderitz, Karas Region

J L Marine Merchants collects dry and wet washed up kelp, by hand on the beaches, the blades and holdfast are cut off and left on shoreline as a food source for local wildlife and sea organisms that thrive on this specific food source. Our project is based in the surrounding areas of Luderiz and the Sperrgebiet mine. We currently have two teams consisting of four (4) kelp collectors and one (1) driver. The collection of the kelp is on the surf zone by hand, so that no environmental disturbance occurs. The vehicles and trailers used for pick up, travel on existing roads. Our project relies mainly on manual labour in the areas where we collect the kelp. The heaps of the kelp are then transported to our facility in Luderitz where the sun drying process starts. The dry kelp is then processed into smaller chips and bagged for the agricultural market and innumerable other usages.