Nutritional composition and heavy metal profiling of Australian kelps cultured in proximity to salmon and mussel farms

Global demand for seaweed is increasing alongside the interest for sustainable aquaculture, stimulating industry investment in the production of seaweeds, particularly through integrated multitrophic aquaculture systems. We report the first results of the nutritional value (proximate composition, fatty acids, and dietary minerals) and heavy metal profiling of two Australian kelps, Macrocystis pyrifera and Lessonia corrugata, cultivated in proximity to Atlantic salmon and blue mussels in south-eastern Australia, and compare the effects of freeze- and air-drying on biochemical composition. There were no consistent effects of drying method on the nutritional composition and concentration of contaminants amongst sites and species. Overall, significant variation in protein content was reported amongst sites, lipids were generally low (