Harvesting giant kelp is big business. The number of uses people have found for kelp products is remarkable.

Kelp was originally used as a fertilizer, then later in the manufacture of gunpowder and as an animal feed.

Much of today's harvest is used to produce chemicals for the manufacture of medicines, plastics, beauty aids, paper, clothing, and processed foods.

One local San Diego company produces more than 300 products from kelp!