Seaweed in East Anglia project explores industry potential

The Seaweed in East Anglia (SEA) initiative seeks to develop a "sustainable and viable seaweed industry" with the potential to become a leader in this emerging market.

If funding is agreed by Norfolk County Council on Monday, the project will explore the county's production capability for seaweed-based products, including the possibility of taking a share of the £6.6bn UK animal feed market.

A report to the county's cabinet says although interest in the sector is growing rapidly, there is currently no seaweed production or processing in Norfolk.

"With 90 miles of coastline bordering the North Sea, Norfolk has an opportunity to establish a seaweed industry," says the report.

Farmed seaweed being harvested - Picture: Dr Gill Malin / UEA (Image: Dr Gill Malin / UEA)

"Seaweed could be an important future feedstock for the UK with wider applications in food, fertilisers, animal feed, biofuels, bioplastics and more.

"Developing a seaweed industry and taking advantage of the growing market is a great opportunity for Norfolk, with several local companies already using or wanting to use seaweed in food, sustainable plastic packaging, and antimicrobial products."

Many of the UK's 600 species of wild seaweed have been harvested for centuries as food, animal feed and fertilisers. Farmed seaweed is used as an iodine source in food, and also in pharmaceuticals, skincare products, toothpaste and cosmetics.

The north Norfolk coast near Wells has been explored as a possible location for seaweed farms - Picture: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Although Norfolk currently has no seaweed industry, the idea has been discussed before.

A conference, called Growing a Seaweed Economy in East Anglia, took place in Norwich in 2014, and a company named Sustainable Seaweed held a public consultation in 2019 on proposals to establish a commercial farm near Wells.

Those plans involved growing seaweed using mats positioned three metres underwater, and lifted out of the sea to be harvested. It sparked concerns from fishermen over the impact on their traditional fishing grounds.

Hethel Innovation will lead the new 11-month SEA project in collaboration with University of East Anglia and marine researchers at Cefas.

Rikke Nagell-Kleven, an innovation consultant at Hethel Innovation, said engagement with coastal communities and industries would be an "important part" of their studies.

Rikke Nagell-Kleven, an innovation consultant at Hethel Innovation - Picture: Hethel Innovation (Image: Hethel Innovation)

"Hopefully this will support new livelihoods and new value chains for coastal towns and industries," she said.

"What we are hoping to prove, when data becomes available, is farming seaweed filters the water and provides sanctuary for fish, lessens the impact from storms and coastal erosion, adds to the local industries and should not affect fishermen. 

"It is important that we understand any concerns because we want to be an industry that supports coastal towns and communities.

"We want to have locally-farmed seaweed and initial production phases close to the shore, and we want it to be used locally too. We want to define what the opportunities are for Norfolk as we move towards more sustainable local supply chains."

She said the project is already working with Norfolk Seaweed, a firm which is three years into the complex application process to secure licences from organisations including the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Crown Estate, for an offshore farm near Blakeney.

A project has been launched to create a seaweed industry on the Norfolk coast - Picture: Mike Page (Image: Mike Page)

SEA also plans to learn from partners in the Netherlands where "multi-use sea farms" have already been implemented.

This is one of 12 pilot projects which Norfolk's cabinet will consider funding on Monday, using £1.5m from the local business rates fund.

They represent the first phase of the Norfolk Investment Framework, aiming to identify long-term priorities to boost the economy, drive investment and create jobs.

Fabian Eagle, cabinet member for growing the economy, said: "These pilot projects will help to boost business growth, develop new supply chains, support Norfolk’s move to net zero and enhance skills in the county."