Seaweed in Ireland has a longstanding tradition and is cemented in Irish folklore but its use has been lost in recent years. Recognising the potential of seaweed, The Seaweed Company used EU funds to develop a seaweed farm and Ireland’s first dedicated seaweed processing facility.
Mulroy Bay in Donegal is a sheltered sea loch meaning it is perfect for the development of aquaculture. Alongside seaweed farming, the bay is home to several mussel and salmon aquaculture sites, while local fishers also hand-dive for scallops and native oysters. The bay has 13 naturally occurring seaweed species including Alaria (often referred to as Atlantic Wakame). Alaria, a species of kelp native to cold, temperate climates, has been studied and identified as a good candidate for seaweed aquaculture.
General Manager of the processing facility, Lorraine Gallagher, has a longstanding affiliation with Mulroy Bay. Her family has a shellfish business in the area which has produced scallops for over 30 years. Using this local know-how, as well as training as a phycologist, Lorraine teamed up with the Seaweed Company to diversify their site on the bay and to open a seaweed processing facility – a first in Ireland.
As stated by Lorraine Gallagher, General Manager of The Seaweed Company: “Mulroy Bay is perfect for the production of seaweed. We have very cold waters in which species such as Alaria thrive. The bay is also very sheltered and often referred to as ‘fjord-like,’ long and winding, and protected from the open waters, which is an ideal setting for aquaculture.”
Once harvested and removed from the water, seaweed deteriorates quickly if not processed. At The Seaweed Company’s processing site in Donegal, the seaweed is first cleaned and shredded before going through a fast-drying machine. From leaving the harvesting site, in less than three hours, the seaweed can be processed, dried, and bagged, ready for shipping.
Lorriane Gallagher underlines the importance of EU support: “Without EU-funding, this project would not have been possible. The funding has allowed us to scale-up our production as well as develop our new processing facility which allows us to dry the seaweed quickly so it can be transported and used in food production.”
Lorraine’s story exemplifies the need for generational renewal in the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. As a second-generation aquaculture producer, she has diversified the family business into an exciting and growing sector. Lorraine and her father, Jerry Gallagher, are looking to further grow their aquaculture site in Mulroy Bay – they plan to experiment with different seaweed species found in the bay and new methods of production.