merilevä

Merilevää is the Finnish term for seaweed, a diverse group of photosynthetic, multicellular marine algae that grow in coastal waters around the world. Seaweeds are not a single species but a broad category that includes three major taxonomic groups: brown algae (Phaeophyceae), red algae (Rhodophyta), and green algae (Chlorophyta). They vary in pigment, size, habitat, and life cycles, from filamentous forms to large kelp beds forming underwater forests in temperate and cold seas.

Ecologically, merilevää are primary producers that use sunlight to convert inorganic nutrients into organic matter. They provide critical habitat and food for a wide range of marine organisms and influence coastal ecosystems by trapping sediments and shaping shoreline habitats. In certain regions, kelp forests dominate shallow rocky shores and support high biodiversity.

Humans harvest merilevää for food, fertilizer, and industrial uses. In East Asian cuisines, edible red and other seaweeds are valued for flavor and texture; globally, brown seaweeds are sources of polysaccharides such as alginate, while red seaweeds yield carrageenan and agar used as gelling and thickening agents. Nutritionally, seaweeds are rich in minerals, dietary fiber, and protein, though iodine content can be high.

Sustainability considerations include responsible wild-harvesting and the growth of seaweed aquaculture, which can reduce pressure on wild stocks but may introduce ecological risks if not managed properly. Merilevää are found in coastal regions worldwide, thriving in clean, nutrient-rich seawater and showing varying tolerance to salinity and temperature.