Chapters 14.4
14.4 - Eelgrass from the ocean bottom
Kaitlyn Sharpe, University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Sharpe, K. (2022) Water Plants. In The Student Encyclopedia of Canadian Indigenous Foods. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.firstnationsfoods.org/
Background
Eelgrass is a type of seagrass that is found in shallow waters and along coast shorelines (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). Although it provides food and shelter insulation for many indigenous communities, eelgrass is also home for many marine creatures (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014).
What is eelgrass
Eelgrass, otherwise known as Zostera marina, is a type of seagrass that is both found and grown in the temperate and subtropical climates of shallow waters and along coast shorelines (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). There are about fifteen different species of marine plants found in the Zostera family and with only two of the species being seagrasses (Petruzzello, 2020). The eelgrass plant looks a lot like seaweed with its long leafy grass like structure (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). Eelgrass is a marine grass like flowering plant that is found growing on the ocean floors as well as the shallow waters in bays (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). Most species of eelgrass are perennials meaning that the plants have a lifetime of more than two years (Petruzzello, 2020). Although eelgrass plants are commonly found in shallow areas with muddy or sandy soils, the plant can also grow completely submerged underwater (Petruzzello, 2020). The plant produces some flowers that grow at the top of the plant meaning that the reproduction of eelgrass can occur both vegetatively and by seed germination (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). Since eelgrass is a marine ecosystem rather than a single stand-alone plant, it provides a home or habitat and food source for a wide and diverse range of many different Puget sound species (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). Puget sound species found throughout eelgrass beds include but are not limited to species such as crabs, shrimp and small schools of fish (National Geographic Society, 2020). Underwater plants and ecosystems such as eelgrass provide many benefits to help the needs of marine life. These plants provide food, nurseries, breeding areas and a calmer resting place for the marine life (National Geographic Society, 2020). Rather than being a plant that just benefits the needs of and lifestyles of the ocean and marine life, eelgrass also provides food and shelter insulation for many indigenous communities (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014).
Historical and cultural background
Plants and species all around the world have some kind of background story of how they came to be or their original and traditional uses. Eelgrass is a main ecosystem for the marine life, therefore providing both a shelter and food source for marine creatures (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). The plant also acts as a food source for several peoples of indigenous communities around Canada (Kuhnlein and Turner, 2020). Historically, common eelgrass plants were an important part of the shallow water living species, as they were used to create and cushion other materials (Petruzzello, 2020). Eelgrass plants were harvested from the ocean water and the leaves were then separated allowing them to dry (Petruzzello, 2020). The dried leaves were used for a variety of things ranging from stuffing for cushions, packaging for glass articles and well as creating weaved baskets (Petruzzello, 2020).
Geographic origins
Like almost any other food or item worldwide there is almost always a geographic origin. This means that that the product was originally found in a specific region, area or country and over the years has been relocated or naturally dispersed to new locations. The origin of eelgrass comes directly from North American shorelines (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). The shores from north to south of the continent was where eelgrass was first found. More specifically coastlines from Greenland to Florida was the native distribution of where the plant was first found (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). Original habitats of small coves, tidal creeks and estuaries was where the grass like species was commonly found (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). Since eelgrass ecosystems are mostly on shorelines, the origin of coastlines and along oceans only makes sense.
Associated indigenous peoples and their territory
Although eelgrass seems to be more of an ecosystem for marine life rather than a product found for human use there is people who have found those uses. The indigenous peoples of Canada are known for using resources and living of their lands. Since eelgrass is found in the shallow waters along the ocean shorelines, several costal groups of British Columbia were found to make the most use of the product (Kuhnlein and Turner, 2020). There are many Canadian communities especially those found in just British Columbia as seen in figure 4. The indigenous peoples from the communities of Straights Salish, Haida and Kwakwaka’wakw were those specifically that found eelgrass to be useful in their everyday lives (Kuhnlein and Turner, 2020).
How was it cooked and consumed
When eelgrass was first found to be a plant growing on the ocean floors very few people would have thought to ever attempt to cook with it let alone eat it. If you think of the structure of a common leafy like vegetable eaten consistently, the structure of eelgrass seems rather similar. An eelgrass plant consists of three main parts, rhizomes, stems and leaf bases, all of which are edible to humans (Vaudrey et al, 2010). Rhizomes which are part of the root system are found under the ground and is the organ of the plant that takes in water and other nutrients (Vaudrey et al, 2010). The stems conduct the water and minerals that the roots absorb and transport up to the leaves and flowers where the leaf bases are just the long and wide grass looking pieces that attach to the stem (Vaudrey et al, 2010). Most of the time the plant was harvested and then separated, being eaten as just a raw material (Kuhnlein and Turner, 2020). Some indigenous groups would collect eelgrass plants and place throughout other dishes being cooked to add a specific texture or flavour (Kuhnlein and Turner, 2020). This was commonly done when meats were being steamed as well as the leaves of the plants were formed into cakes and left to dry out (Kuhnlein and Turner, 2020).
Benefits
Since the marine plant is found living in shallow water bays, the harvest and collection of eelgrass is found to be easier than other food sources (Kuhnlein and Turner, 2020). This was discovered because at certain points during the day the plant was completely exposed and out of the water. As the tide lowers the cultivation process becomes much easier as there is no fight against the ocean water (Kuhnlein and Turner, 2020). As talked about earlier, eelgrass is more of an ecosystem rather than just a plant. It creates both a home and a food source for many different small underwater sea creatures like fish and crabs (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014). Ecosystems like eelgrass have challenges with supporting themselves with services so rather it provides service to several other ecosystems. Some of these services include helping to regulate essential processes such as crop pollination, air and water purification as well as the regeneration of soils and nutrients (Vaudrey et al, 2010). The ecosystem itself helps with keeping the ocean waters clear as well as aids in the stabilization of shorelines (Tulipani and Lipcius, 2014).
Limitations
Although eelgrass seems like a relatively low maintenance easy to access and to use product, there are always issues that rise over time. The production of eelgrass relies on an adequate amount of sunlight as well as appropriate water depth for the plant to yield to its maximum potential (Vaudrey et al, 2010). Since eelgrass is found in shallow waters, specifically shorelines and bay coves, certain areas could be sheltered and shaded by other natural materials like trees and rocks. This means there could be a limit to how much eelgrass is produced in certain areas. The production of seagrasses are declining all over the world, causing a loss in the biodiversity of marine ecosystems (van Katwijk et al., 1997). The loss of eelgrass in certain bays has been tested for possible toxic effects of high nitrogen and ammonia concentrations in the waters (van Katwijk et al., 1997). Since the waters in bay coves do not circulate as much like the open waters the chemical are found in higher concentration therefore allowing for a less dense overall production.
References
1. Kuhnlein, H. V., & Turner, N. J. (2020). Descriptions and uses of Plant Foods by indigenous peoples. Traditional Plant Foods of Canadian Indigenous Peoples, (Vol 8), 25–266. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003054689-4
2. National Geographic Society. (2020, June 23). Marine Ecosystems. National Geographic Society. Retrieved November 25, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/marine-ecosystems/#:~:text=Animals%2C%20such%20as%20fish%2C%20crabs,exoskeleton%20secreted%20by%20coral%20polyps.
3.Petruzzello, M. (2020, March 5). Eelgrass. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved November 26, 2021, from https://www.britannica.com/plant/eelgrass.
4.Tulipani, D. C., & Lipcius, R. N. (2014, July 29). Evidence of eelgrass. Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://go-gale-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=guel77241&id=GALE%7CA417323017&v=2.1&it=r.
5.Vaudrey, J., Kremer, J., Branco, B., & Short, F. (2010, November). Eelgrass recovery after nutrient enrichment reversal. Retrieved October 21, 2021, from https://www-sciencedirect-com.subzero.lib.uoguelph.ca/science/article/pii/S0304377010000963?via%3Dihub.
6.van Katwijk, M. M., Vergeer, L. H. T., Schmitz, G. H. W., & Roelofs, J. G. M. (1997). Ammonium toxicity in eelgrass zostera marina. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 157, 159–173. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps157159