News

Researchers have developed a new economic insights tool designed to help seaweed farmers scale production and reduce costs, addressing key financial barriers that have limited the sector’s growth. The tool was created through a collaboration between Kelson Marine in Portland, Maine, and the University of Maine, with the goal of providing farmers detailed analyses of their operations and identifying pathways to improved profitability.

Seaweed farming is increasingly recognized for its potential environmental and economic benefits. Evidence suggests it can contribute to nutrient cycling, carbon uptake and habitat provision, while also supplementing human diets, supporting livestock feed, contributing to biofuel production and helping mitigate climate change. However, experts emphasize that achieving these benefits depends on scaling the industry sustainably and efficiently.

One of the primary challenges facing seaweed producers is the lack of clear economic benchmarks and standardized financial modeling. Many farms operate in emerging markets with limited historical data, making it difficult to evaluate performance or attract investment. The new tool addresses this gap by offering detailed cost breakdowns and scenario analyses that allow farmers to understand how different operational decisions affect overall profitability.

By modeling factors such as labor, equipment, yield and processing expenses, the tool helps identify cost drivers and potential efficiencies. This enables producers to test strategies for expansion and determine the scale at which operations become economically viable. The developers aim to support both new entrants and established growers seeking to optimize production systems.

The broader objective is to create a stronger economic foundation for the seaweed sector. With better financial visibility, farmers may be better positioned to secure financing, attract investors and make data-driven decisions about growth. As global interest in regenerative ocean farming increases, tools that clarify economic performance are viewed as critical to unlocking larger-scale production.

Ultimately, the initiative reflects growing recognition that environmental promise alone is not sufficient to expand seaweed aquaculture. Practical, accessible economic insights are essential to ensure the industry can grow sustainably while delivering on its potential environmental and social benefits.

A new study examining integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) in Bantry Bay, Ireland, has found direct nutrient transfer from farmed salmon to cultivated kelp, demonstrating measurable ecological connectivity between the two species.

The research focused on a system in which a kelp farm was positioned approximately 200 meters from a salmon farm that resumed production in mid-2023 after a four-year hiatus. Scientists investigated whether dissolved nutrients released from salmon operations could be transported by marine currents and subsequently absorbed by kelp grown nearby.

To assess this interaction, researchers used a hydrodynamic model known as the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS). The model simulated how nitrogen released from salmon cages dispersed throughout Bantry Bay, accounting for water movement and temperature conditions. Results showed that marine currents transported nutrients from the salmon site directly to the kelp cultivation area.

The Bantry Bay kelp site consists of 17 cultivation lines, each measuring 110 meters, and is designed for high biomass production. The study evaluated nutrient dynamics alongside broader environmental indicators, including biodiversity, carbon dioxide sequestration potential, and the system’s capacity to buffer ocean acidification.

Findings confirmed that nitrogen originating from salmon farming activities was taken up by the adjacent kelp crop. This direct nutrient transfer supports the principles of IMTA, in which waste outputs from one species become resource inputs for another. In this case, dissolved nutrients released by salmon provided a growth input for kelp.

The researchers highlighted that such integrated systems may enhance overall environmental performance by recycling nutrients within the marine environment. In addition to nutrient uptake, the demonstration project explored the potential for kelp cultivation to contribute to biodiversity improvements and carbon capture while operating alongside finfish aquaculture.

The Bantry Bay trial provides modeled and site-based evidence that spatially coordinated salmon and seaweed farming can function as a connected biological system. By confirming nutrient transfer across a 200-meter distance, the study offers data-driven insight into how IMTA designs may be optimized in open-water conditions.

Perth-based materials company Uluu has secured $2.1 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program to accelerate the commercialisation of its seaweed-based alternative to conventional plastic packaging.

The grant is designed to support the scale-up of Uluu’s innovative material, which is made entirely from farmed seaweed. The funding will enable the company to increase its production capacity tenfold, transitioning from pilot-scale operations to a larger facility capable of producing approximately 10 tonnes of material per year.

Uluu’s technology converts sustainably sourced seaweed into a bio-based plastic that is designed to address the environmental impacts associated with fossil fuel-derived plastics. The material is recyclable, home compostable and marine biodegradable, offering a lower-impact alternative for packaging and other applications. According to the company, the material is also lightweight, strong, waterproof and non-toxic.

The Industry Growth Program funding will support Uluu in advancing its manufacturing capabilities and moving closer to broader commercial adoption. By scaling its production, the company aims to meet growing demand from brands and manufacturers seeking sustainable packaging solutions.

Uluu’s expansion reflects increasing interest in bio-based materials as businesses and governments look for viable pathways to reduce plastic waste and emissions. With the new funding, the company is positioned to further develop its operations and strengthen its role in Australia’s emerging sustainable materials sector.

Researchers from The University of Adelaide have demonstrated that a naturally derived compound from seaweed can significantly reduce methane emissions in beef cattle raised in extensive grazing systems. The findings show methane reductions of up to 77 per cent without harming calves, marking a notable step forward in efforts to curb livestock-related greenhouse gas emissions.

The study focused on supplementing cattle diets with a seaweed-derived compound under real-world grazing conditions. Unlike previous controlled feedlot trials, this research evaluated the additive in extensive systems more representative of commercial beef production. The results confirmed substantial methane reductions, even when the compound was administered at slightly lower concentrations than in earlier experiments that achieved higher emissions cuts.

Importantly, researchers found no adverse effects on calves, addressing concerns about potential impacts on animal health and development. The study contributes to a growing body of evidence supporting seaweed-based feed additives as a viable methane mitigation strategy for the beef industry.

However, the trial also identified areas requiring further investigation. Animals receiving the supplement consumed less feed and experienced slower weight gain compared to those not given the additive. Researchers noted that the reasons for reduced feed intake and slower growth remain unclear and warrant additional study to optimise dosage and ensure productivity is maintained.

Methane produced by cattle is a significant contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. As global attention intensifies on climate change mitigation, practical solutions for reducing emissions in large-scale grazing systems are increasingly important. The University of Adelaide team’s findings suggest that seaweed-derived compounds could offer a scalable option for lowering methane output in beef production, provided that performance impacts are better understood and managed.

The research adds to ongoing efforts to balance environmental sustainability with the economic viability of livestock operations, highlighting both the promise and the practical considerations of adopting methane-reducing feed technologies in commercial beef systems.

Alaska plans to grow its mariculture industry with a focus on oysters and seaweed, but there are obstacles to overcome. While oyster farming is responsible for $1.6 million of mariculture revenue in Alaska, more than three-quarters of the $2 million total, the focus of a Pacific Marine Expo mariculture panel hosted by Dan Lesh, deputy director of the Southeast Conference (SEC), was solidly on seaweed. “We want to go from $2 million to $200 million in mariculture sales,” says Lesh.

For the second year in a row, a coalition of mariculture interests has hired the McKinley Research Group and the Pacific Shellfish Institute to compile data and research about the state of Alaska’s mariculture industry.

Alaska’s mariculture industry continues to grow, even though it is in its infancy compared to other states. Alaska’s shellfish farms reported just under $1.5 million in sales of oysters and mussels in 2024 and $48,713 in aquatic plant sales, according to figures collected by Emily Gettis, a representative of the state Department of Natural Resources.