RFT to compile a report on State of the art Seaweed Hatchery and Sea grow-out Site Design to include Blueprint and Costs

Description

There are significant opportunities for the expansion of the Irish macro algal sector in terms of functional foods, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, bio-stimulants (by means of a bio-refinery), bioremediation and feed in the area of anti-methanogenic properties of interest to the dairy and beef sectors. Capitalising in a sustainable way on this versatile and abundant, naturally occurring resource is a key objective of BIM’s work programme. There are now seaweed licences in place for 254 hectares of seaweed cultivation (with an additional 522 hectares at licence application stage with the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine) and a number of highly innovative projects on micro algae are under way in Ireland. To drive development and innovation and to capitalize on this opportunity, BIM intends to commission this report: • To take forward the recommendation arising from the 2022 Seaweed Strategy concerning the need for an Irish state of the art commercial seaweed hatchery(s) for the brown seaweeds in particular (Alaria esculenta and Saccharina latissima), also for red weed (Porphyra spp. and Palmaria palmata). • To scope and cost the required specification for a seaweed hatchery. • To scope and cost the required specification for sea grow-out sites given the variable nature of the Irish coastline • To include a blueprint for the hatchery and sea grow-out sites. • To include a preliminary investigation of the co-location of seaweed farming with offshore wind energy infrastructure. This report is aligned with current EU policy. Algae has been identified by DG Mare in its blue bioeconomy road map and in this regard the EU is to provide support to algal development activities to enable a strong and sustainable EU algal sector providing for the following objectives: - improved governance, large scale production, support funding, improved business environment, social awareness and acceptance and closure of knowledge and innovation gaps.