Fucus SP. | DE L'EAU À LA BOUCHE

Fronde aplatie et d’une texture similaire au cuir, se divise en « Y » à répétition.

Appareil buccal, appelé « lanterne d’Aristote », doté de 5 dents et situé dans la région ventrale.

Petit crampon.

De couleur variant entre le jaune foncé, le vert et le brun.

Aux extrémités se trouvent des renflements généralement de couleur jaune-orange, appelés « réceptacles ». La forme de ceux-ci varie selon l’espèce, durant la période de reproduction : ronds, fourchus, allongés, etc.

Nom

Fucus
Fucus vesiculosus, F. spiralis, F. distichus evanescens, F. distichus edentatus

Type

Brown algae

Autres appellations

Rockweed

Nom en cuisine

État de la ressource

Not a cause for concern

Saison de consommation

Processed all year round. Generally as a dried product.

SIZE : 40 cm to 90 cm, depending on the species.

LIFE EXPECTANCY : 3 to 5 years (toothed rockweed), up to 15 years (bladder rockweed).

LIFE CYCLE : Rockweeds are long-lived. They grow from the tips of their fronds. New branches are added to each tip of the existing ones. If the frond is lost, regeneration can also take place from the holdfast.

Depending on their species, the plants can bear one type of sex cell only, or both. In all cases, the receptacles at the end of the fronds release eggs and sperm in spring. After fertilization, the new individual settles to the bottom and begins to grow.

The reproductive cells are found in the receptacles at the end of the fronds.
Credit : Richard Larocque, photo taken in Mont-Louis.

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Coastal zone, up to 6 m in depth.

Rockweeds favor cold temperate waters.

Photographie de fucus hors de l'eau sur des rochers.

Rockweeds are extremely hardy algae. They can survive severe dehydration, as well as exposure to fresh water.
Credit : Éric Tamigneaux, photo taken in Paspebiac, in 2012.

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PREYS :

CO2
Solar energy

PREDATORS :

Herbivorous molluscs
Grazing fishes

MACHINES : Hand harvesting.

REGULATIONS :
Permit required. Cut the rockweeds with a sharp object, 15 cm above the holdfast. Every other frond is harvested.

Harvesting is done at low tide, rotating the zones. Ideally, an area should be harvested only once every three years.

Beached rockweeds can also be harvested for use as a field fertilizer.

BENEFITS :
Rockweeds are rich in iodine and other minerals, including copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron. They are a good source of vitamins A, B, C and K. They are also a good source of fiber. They are rich in alginate, a natural gelling agent.

LET’S COOK :
Rockweeds have a strong marine taste, similar to that of oysters. They act as a natural flavor enhancer.

OUR CULINARY ADVICE :

Add rockweed when steaming foods, to give them an umami flavor.
Young fronds can be steamed, boiled, or fried.
Use dried rockweed to season your dishes or to make infusions.

The waters of the St. Lawrence are well known for their high quality. However, as algae absorb the elements present in the water in order to grow, it is best to make sure that the harvesting site is clean before eating them fresh.

Qirquaq

In Nunavik, brown algae such as evanescent rockweed, called qirquaq in Inuktitut, are particularly popular. They are eaten fresh.