Seaweed nursery

SAMS has recently completed a project to expand and commercialise the on-site seaweed nursery, which will increase its production capacity, improve efficiency, advance the institutes applied research capabilities and support the growth of the sector in the UK.

Our product development complements research on bio-security, Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) and mitigation of disease in seaweeds to maximise biomass yields and integrate with existing aquaculture operations. The nursery, operated by SAMS Enterprise, the commercial arm of SAMS, will be able to fulfil the growing demand of high-quality starting material to commercial seaweed farms for years to come.

As part of our mission to enable productive oceans whilst safeguarding the marine environment we produce site-specific strains of seaweed seeded line in a bio-secure nursery, satisfying the regulatory needs of cultivators across the UK. Utilising two decades of applied seaweed cultivation research, we currently maintain a biobank of seed cultures for a number of species, including Alaria esculenta, Laminaria digitata and Saccharina latissima, from various coastal locations that can be propagated annually to produce seeded line.

Through recent research and applied commercial projects, SAMS has produced the following reports that can guide you through the regulatory, technical, social, and economic aspects of establishing a seaweed farm:

- Seaweed farming feasibility study for Argyll and Bute

- Economic feasibility study on seaweed (cultivation and supply)

- Social licence handbook on seaweed cultivation (Coming June 2021)

- Seaweed farming licencing/regulatory guidance (Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland) (Coming July 2021)

For further information timelines, logistics, and the cost of seeded line, or to discuss how might assist in the development of your farm site, please contact our commercial team at seaweed@sams-enterprise.com