SCOTTISH SEAWEED FARMING NEEDS GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Scottish seaweed farming needs Government support. The Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (SIFT) recently commissioned a report on Facilitating development of the seaweed cultivation sector in Scotland. The report assesses the role of cooperatives and alternative models for collaboration in meeting key commercial challenges in the sector. In particular, it considers how cooperatives specifically designed to assist small scale seaweed farmers to pool stock, share processing facilities, and collaborate in marketing seaweed products would help to ensure that ownership and control of the seaweed industry remains in the communities close to where seaweed farming occurs.

The report- available to read in full here Seaweed Cultivation – SIFT, concluded that the Scottish Government should support the development of a sustainable Scottish seaweed farming industry.

The research found that Scotland’s seas are “ideal for cultivation of seaweeds such as kelp”, with interest in kelp farming “rapidly expanding” as a way of creating a sustainable and alternative livelihood.

However, the study, published by the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (Sift), warned there are “major barriers to development” of seaweed farming and new businesses in the sector can face “daunting tasks”. One of the areas identified as being “necessary to facilitate development of the seaweed cultivation industry in Scotland” is government subsidy and support specifically for the kelp farming industry.

As well as a need for government subsidy and support, the report identified investment in and the development of processing facilities as being key, along with improved organisation and co-operation between kelp farmers.

The report said:

“The Scottish Government could help co-operation by providing kelp farmers with funds to create voluntary ‘producers organisations’ or ‘farmer-owned processing companies’, which would allow farmers to strengthen their market position and overcome supply chain bottlenecks.”