Inês Oliveira1, Helena Abreu1, Margarida Martins1, Diogo Raposo2, David Aldridge2, João Vitorino3, Frederico Diniz3, Isabel Costa4, Aires Duarte4 and Frank Neumann2,5
1ALGAplus – Produção de Algas e Seus Derivados, Lda, PCI – Parque de Ciência e Inovação, Via do Conhecimento, 3830-352 Ílhavo, Portugal
2Seaweed Solutions AS, Trondheim, Norway
3Instituto Hidrográfico, Lisbon, Portugal
4CIIMAR – Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental, Matosinhos, Portugal
5in2sea – Inovação no Mar, Lda, Sines, Portugal
While commercial seaweed farming in Europe barely exists compared to the global scale, in recent years a very dynamic industry branch has evolved, with several small-scale cultivation activities, both in the sea and on tanks inland. In Norway, especially brown seaweed (kelp) has been increasingly targeted as raw material, as its pristine cold waters in relatively protected zones are ideal for the initial industry phase of kelp cultivation. However, competition for suitable farm areas is foreseeable. This and the fact that geographic spread will substantially reduce the risk of volume losses in case of diseases or other technical risks, makes it a very interesting scenario to explore the vast ocean areas potentially available for farming in Portugal.
In a similar fashion, production of the highly sought-after red seaweed species Palmaria palmata in tanks in Portugal is limited due to high water temperature in summer. By tapping Norwegian waters, production of this species can be approached broader by Southern -European companies, which thus can enhance security of supply for larger productions volumes.
The EEA-financed project SølKelp – North-South Seaweed Cultivation Partnership is an example of geo-strategic collaboration of two undertakings on opposite ends of Europe, making mutually use of cultivation conditions that do not exist in their home region. This contribution summarises the findings of the first season of the project and gives an outlook on how such new challenges and opportunities can add a relevant pillar to commercial operations’ portfolios.