SAMS launches first UK course focused on seaweed nursery cultivation to boost aquaculture growth

SAMS launches first UK course focused on seaweed nursery cultivation to boost aquaculture growth

(IN BRIEF) The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) has delivered the UK’s first training course dedicated to seaweed nursery cultivation through its Seaweed Academy programme. The course covered practical skills including nursery construction, biosecurity, and selective breeding, helping participants gain the expertise needed to establish successful nurseries. All eight places were filled by trainees from across Europe, with scholarships funded by WWF-UK and Highlands and Islands Enterprise enabling wider access. Funded by the Michael Uren Foundation and WWF-UK, the course will run annually, with content updated to reflect SAMS’ latest research. Feedback from participants, including representatives from Câr-y-Môr in Wales, highlights the course’s role in strengthening skills, improving practices, and supporting the expansion of sustainable seaweed farming across the UK and beyond.

(PRESS RELEASE) OBAN, 22-Aug-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) has launched a pioneering training programme designed to equip participants with the technical knowledge and practical skills required for the early stages of seaweed farming. Delivered through SAMS Enterprise’s Seaweed Academy, the new course marks the first time in the UK that training has focused specifically on establishing and managing seaweed nurseries.

Over the course of the programme, participants learned the fundamentals of building and running a nursery, managing biosecurity, and applying selective breeding techniques – all critical steps in ensuring successful and sustainable cultivation. The course attracted a diverse group of eight trainees from across the UK and Europe, including one participant who travelled from Portugal, underlining the growing international interest in seaweed aquaculture.

Jenny Black, Seaweed Academy project manager, said: “We created this course in response to direct demand from industry. While the Seaweed Academy has offered training for the past three years, there was no programme that looked in depth at nursery establishment. With expertise from our scientists and nursery staff, we have developed a comprehensive training opportunity that supports a key stage in the seaweed farming value chain.”

The programme was supported by scholarships funded by WWF-UK and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), helping broaden access to new entrants and those keen to expand their expertise. Trainees included prospective seaweed farmers, researchers, and existing nursery operators.

Beth Marshall of Câr-y-Môr, Wales’ first regenerative seaweed and shellfish farm, reflected on her experience: “This course has given me invaluable insights into nursery practice, from the importance of biosecurity to the patience required in establishing a successful system. Having run a nursery before with limited experience, it’s been hugely helpful to learn directly from experts. Our new nursery at Câr-y-Môr will apply these lessons and provide vital support to emerging farms in Wales.”

The development of the training course was funded by the Michael Uren Foundation and WWF-UK, with additional course places supported by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

SAMS Enterprise now plans to deliver the nursery-focused course annually, evolving its content in line with new scientific research and industry developments. The initiative reinforces SAMS’ role in supporting the growth of the seaweed aquaculture sector across the UK and Europe, both through applied research and skills development.

Media Contact:

Euan Paterson
Communications and Media Officer
Euan.Paterson@sams.ac.uk
01631 559342 (direct dial)
07827 963984 (mobile)
01631 559000 (switchboard)

SOURCE: Scottish Association for Marine Science