Official launch of the Irish Seaweed Association in Dublin

Ireland's seaweed farmers now have a central industry association, with the official launch of the Irish Seaweed Association (ISA) taking place today in Dublin.

The launch forms part of a special event on regenerative ocean farming and the blue economy, open to ocean farmers, researchers, industry innovators and students, hosted by the Centre for Social Innovation, Trinity Business School and the School of Natural Sciences at Trinity College Dublin (University of Dublin).

The newly-launched ISA, according to its website, "aims to support and promote the growth of Ireland’s seaweed farming industry by replicating the successful model of the Norwegian Seaweed Association".

The organization will act as a central focus for Ireland's growing seaweed farming industry, aiming to enable knowledge-sharing and propagate best practices in the sector.

"Emphasizing regenerative practices is crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainability and health of the Irish marine ecosystem," the ISA states.

The initiative grew out of the C-FAARER project, a two-year project funded by Horizon Europe under the Mission ‘Restore Our Ocean and Waters by 2030’, focusing on support for regenerative ocean farming in the Atlantic and Arctic Sea basin. In 2024, members of the project carried out consultations with a variety of stakeholders in Ireland’s seaweed farming value chain, which established "the need for a united Ireland seaweed association", encompassing all regions in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, the C-FAARER project said.