Seaweed farm developers 'must win community support'
Projects can be washed away by opposition if they are not rooted in local needs and values
Seaweed farming in the UK has the potential to create new jobs and products, while contributing to a low-carbon economy but has yet to fully gain public trust, according to a new report by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban.
The report, ‘Seaweed farming with and for our coastal communities’ sets out six recommendations for policy makers and those planning to farm seaweed around the UK.
Among the recommendations is the need to prioritise local knowledge, work with communities, and increase public awareness of seaweed farming. The report stresses the importance of gaining a ‘social licence’ for developments, to reduce potential conflict and promote ethical approaches to operations, including community engagement.
Worth £7.7bn in Europe by 2030
Seaweed farming is projected to become a US$27-billion (£20.4bn) global industry this year, with the overwhelming majority of activity in Asia. However, the European Union aims to scale production by 2030 to create 115,000 jobs in an industry worth €9bn (£7.7bn).
The new report’s lead author Dr Suzannah-Lynn Billing says the UK can capture part of this accelerating market by growing its seaweed sector, but warns that despite seaweed’s economic and environmental credentials, social licence for new developments is not guaranteed.
“When rooted in coastal communities’ needs and values, seaweed farming can create skilled local jobs and help to build social and economic resilience,” said Billing.
“However, opposition can emerge when proposed operations are misaligned with local values and livelihoods. There are already examples where ignoring coastal community voices within seaweed farm applications has led to conflict, such as the recent rejection of the Port Quin application in Cornwall.
Transparent decisions
“Trust in both farm operators and regulators depends on how open and transparent decision-making processes are. Where community engagement, trust, and transparency are lacking, seaweed farms may struggle to obtain a social licence.
“Crucially, poor relations between seaweed farms or developers and local communities can drive negative political narratives and media coverage, creating conflict and limiting the potential for the seaweed farming sector to unlock positive outcomes for coastal communities. That is why meaningful community involvement in decision-making for seaweed farming is essential. Coastal communities must have a genuine voice in how seaweed farming develops, so operations reflect local priorities and create lasting shared benefits.”
The report has been published by SAMS, a partner of the University of the Highlands and Islands, in collaboration with WWF-UK, community-owned Pembrokeshire seaweed and shellfish farmer Câr Y Môr, Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas), University College London, and Seaweed Scotland.
Dr Piers Hart, aquaculture advisor at WWF-UK, said: “WWF-UK sees growth in seaweed cultivation as an important part of our work in reducing the impacts of climate change, increasing marine biodiversity and supporting local coastal communities in the UK. Seaweed products can replace high carbon products such as plastics and fertilisers, whilst seaweed farms provide marine gardens supporting wildlife and absorbing excess nutrients.
“Coastal communities benefit from the income from seaweed farms as well as cleaner water and employment opportunities. Without community engagement and support, these goals will not be met.”
Coastal voices
Billing’s report is the result of a National Lottery funded project - Unlocking the Power of Seaweed – that works with coastal communities in Pembrokeshire and seaweed farms across the UK. The grant comes from the Climate Action Fund, a £100m commitment over 10 years from the National Lottery Community Fund to support communities across the UK to take action on climate change and involve more people in climate action.
As part of the project, the team created the film Coastal Voices, making space for the St David’s community in Pembrokeshire, to share their diverse perspectives on seaweed farming. The film shows that community support for seaweed farming is conditional on prioritising local needs and respecting and supporting the connection that the community has with their coastline and the place in which they live, work, play, and recover.
