Kelp are large seaweeds belonging to the brown algae (class Phaeophyceae) and are classified as the order Laminariales. There are about 300 different genera. Some species can be very long and form kelp forests. Kelp fisheries is a branch of fisheries science that deals with the study of and uses of large seaweeds of the brown algae group that are commonly called kelp. Scientists group them in the kingdom plantea Kelp grows in underwater "forests" in shallow oceans. It requires nutrient-rich water below about 20 \u00B0C (68 \u00B0F). It is known for its high growth rate \u2014 the genera Macrocystis and Nereocystis grow as fast as half a metre a day, ultimately reaching 30 to 80 m. Through the 19th century, the word "kelp" was closely associated with seaweeds that could be burned to obtain soda ash (primarily sodium carbonate). The seaweeds used included species from both the orders Laminariales and Fucales. The word "kelp" was also used directly to refer to these processed ashes.
Related articles may be found in:
More information may be found on the Wikipedia entry for Kelp
Note: this article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License, which means that you can copy and modify it as long as the entire work (including additions) remains under this license.