Untapped potential of seaweed farming the focus of new Irish Seaweed Association
The untapped potential of seaweed farming in Ireland is the focus of the new Irish Seaweed Association (ISA), which will be launched at an event in Trinity College Dublin this afternoon.
Inspired by the highly successful Norwegian Seaweed Association model, the Irish Seaweed Association aims to unite industry stakeholders, policymakers, and researchers to unlock the potential of seaweed farming as a nature-positive, economically viable, and community-driven sector.
Hosted by the Centre for Social innovation at Trinity Business School and Trinity’s School of Natural Sciences, the Irish Seaweed Association is a spin out from the EU Horizon-funded research project C-FAARER. It is supported by a strong network of partners including the Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin, the Norwegian Seaweed Association, Nofima, Sea Going Green, Redrose Developments, and Horizon Nua.
“The global seaweed industry is projected to reach €22 billion by 2028, driven by the increasing demand for sustainable food and a multitude of other algae-based products that form a key pillar of the bioeconomy. With over 7,500km of coastline, Ireland is uniquely positioned to become a leader in regenerative ocean farming, helping to restore marine ecosystems, and supporting coastal livelihoods, explained Gareth Murphy, PM at Óir Na Farraige part of Simply Blue Group and Chairman of the Irish Seaweed Association.
“Ireland can be a world leader in restorative ocean farming, but only if the government implements the 2017 Aquaculture Licensing Review recommendations — without action, we risk losing jobs in coastal communities and seeing innovation move elsewhere. The Irish Seaweed Association will play a vital role in uniting industry, research, and policymakers to drive innovation and sustainable growth in the sector.”
At the launch event in Trinity Business School this afternoon ocean farmers, researchers, industry innovators, and students will gather to hear more about innovation and new ventures in regenerative ocean farming.
Nessa O’Connor, Professor in Zoology, Trinity College Dublin said: “The Irish Seaweed Association is a milestone in Ireland’s commitment to regenerative ocean farming and the development of a sustainable blue economy. Seaweed farming requires no freshwater or additional fertilisers and has far less environmental impact than land-based agriculture or other forms of aquaculture. When practised sustainably, seaweed farming could even help improve local habitats, biodiversity and water quality.”
By supporting startups, SMEs, and industry players, the Irish Seaweed Association will help secure funding, expand market access, and drive automation, processing advancements, and new product development. Committed to education and community engagement, the Irish Seaweed Association aims to ensure coastal regions benefit directly from a thriving, sustainable development of the seaweed industry.
Dr Dharm Kapletia, Research Fellow at Centre for Social innovation at Trinity Business School added: “The seaweed farming industry faces challenges including-complex licensing procedures, fragmented governance, limited access to processing facilities and uncertain market demand. The ISA will serve as a unified voice for the sector, advocating for coherent and inclusive policies, investments, as well as facilitating knowledge-sharing and collaboration.”
About the Irish Seaweed Association
The Irish Seaweed Association is modelled on the successful Norwegian Seaweed Association, uniting industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers to advance regenerative seaweed farming practices. By leveraging Ireland’s natural resources and expertise, the ISA aims to drive environmental leadership, create jobs, and support responsible innovations within the blue economy.
About C-FAARER
The C-FAARER project is funded by the EU Mission Ocean and Coordinated by Trinity Business School and the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin. The project focuses on advancing regenerative ocean farming practices across the Arctic and Atlantic Sea Basins. By promoting collaboration across borders, this initiative paves the way for sustainable growth in sectors like seaweed farming, addressing critical challenges in climate change and biodiversity.
Fiona Tyrrell, Communications, Trinity College Dublin
tyrrellf@tcd.ie + 353 87 6169056
