Cultivating Palmaria palmata - Bord Iascaigh Mhara

The lack of seaweed aquaculture development in Western countries is largely due to a smaller demand than in
Asian countries because of different traditions in food use. Seaweed cultivation in Europe has tended to develop
as niche enterprises with specific applications rather than as operations for mass production of a commodity
(Werner et al., 2004).
New market demands and applications are slowly transforming the seaweed sector in Europe as well as in other
western countries. According to the marketing strategy report, „A Market Analysis toward the further development
of seaweed aquaculture in Ireland‟ (Walsh & Watson, 2011) and the FAO (2010a), between 25500 and 29500
tonnes of seaweed is harvested annually in Ireland (Fig. 1.3 and Table 1.1), and the industry is valued at
approximately €10 million. The biggest Irish seaweed markets are for agricultural, food and cosmetics/therapies
products. The cultivation of seaweeds (and other algae) has recently become the focus of much research across
the world, including novel uses for seaweeds. Many species with commercial potential have been identified, and
Ireland has recognised the potential value of this marine resource.
Table 1.1. Estimated annual harvest of seaweeds in Ireland (Walsh & Watson, 2011).
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Estimated Annual National Seaweed Harvest
Species
Annual Harvest
(tonnes)
Ascophyllum nodosum 25,000
Fucus serratus 200
Palmaria palmata