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Photo of a Dabberlocks

Species profile

Dabberlocks

Alaria esculenta

Brown algae/kelps520 iNat observations

At a glance

Dabberlocks (Alaria esculenta) is a marine alga with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.

Confirmed by 148 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Quebec, Maine, and Newfoundland and Labrador the top jurisdictions by observation count.

Notable details

  • Dabberlocks has been eaten for centuries in Iceland, Scotland, and Ireland, often dried or cooked in soups.
  • It can grow up to 2 meters long in cold, current-swept Atlantic waters.
  • A tough central midrib runs the length of its blade, providing structural support in surge.

Background

Alaria esculenta is an edible seaweed, also known as dabberlocks or badderlocks, or winged kelp. It is a traditional food along the coasts of the far north Atlantic Ocean. It may be eaten fresh or cooked in Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and Ireland. It is the only one of twelve species of Alaria to occur in both Ireland and in Great Britain.

Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Dabberlocks article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.

Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.