Seaweed is more than just something you find in sushi. It’s essential in many everyday products, including foods and medicines. With its long Atlantic coastline, Ireland has easy access to this marine resource. Seaweed farming in Ireland can benefit coastal communities and make the future greener.
The Many Uses of Seaweed
Seaweed is a secret ingredient in many things we use daily. Many scientists use agar jelly from seaweed for lab research. Carrageenan in seaweed makes foods like yoghurt and ice cream thicker. In fact, there is potential for using certain red seaweeds, such as Asparagopsis, as a food supplement to reduce methane gases in cattle. Seaweed has medicinal benefits too. For example, seaweed-derived alginates are used in cough medicine.
What is Seaweed Farming?
There is a big difference between traditional seaweed harvesting and modern seaweed farming. Seaweed farming involves culturing seaweed spores and spraying them onto string. The string is added to the sea and the spores are left to grow for ~4 months. After this, the lines are retrieved, and the seaweed is harvested.
Seaweed farming in Ireland is still at an early stage. According to BIM, there were 25 licensed seaweed farms along the north-west, west and south-west coast as of 2023, and its Irish Macro-Algal Cultivation Strategy to 2030 sets out a roadmap for growing the sector. By contrast, around 40,000 tonnes of seaweed are harvested in Ireland each year, and over 95 per cent of this is wild rather than farmed. Globally, annual output exceeds 35 million wet tonnes, and 97 per cent of it is cultivated, mostly in Asia.
An example of seaweed cultivation on nets
The Environmental Benefits of Seaweed Farming
Seaweed farming is not only sustainable but also good for the environment. Mechanical seaweed extraction poses risks to vital marine habitats. But seaweed farming doesn’t harm the seabed’s delicate ecosystem or involve harsh chemicals. In fact, it can improve seawater quality by removing extra nitrates and phosphates. Seaweed farms also create homes for marine life, acting like marine reserves.
Economic Opportunities of Seaweed Farming in Ireland
For rural coastal communities in Ireland, seaweed farming offers a hopeful economic chance. Paul Cobb, a seaweed farmer in West Cork, saw the great potential of this crop. He says this form of farming can produce a “rich crop in the winter months when not much is happening on the land.” Cobb has had great success exporting culinary seaweed to Japan. His products include edible seaweeds and new vegetarian options like sea pudding.
Challenges of Seaweed Farming in Ireland
Even though it has great potential, seaweed farming in Ireland faces challenges. Each farm works independently. Processing is difficult for these farms as they must hand-dry the seaweed themselves. A centralised processing refinery, like in the dairy industry, is needed. Pooling resources in this way would help efficiently process seaweed. Investment in such infrastructure could boost Irish seaweed farming to new levels.
Licensing is another hurdle. Seaweed farms need an aquaculture licence from DAFM. As part of this process, the Marine Institute provides scientific advice, including on Appropriate Assessment where a site may affect a Natura 2000 conservation area, and on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) screening. This makes reliable ecological and environmental data on a proposed site an important part of any application.
Conclusion for Seaweed Farming in Ireland
Seaweed farming offers a sustainable way to provide economic opportunities for coastal communities. With investment, we can unlock the untapped potential of seaweed farming in Ireland. However, as with all forms of farming, environmental protection should be a priority. Southern Scientific brings 30+ years of experience, with testing backed by INAB accreditation (registration 194T) and ISO 17025. Southern Scientific offers ecological and environmental assessment services. With our help, you can ensure your farm doesn’t damage the environment.
