Providing solutions for challenging environments

Seaweed Nursery

Whether you are a prospective grower or an established operator in the seaweed industry, the SAMS Enterprise Seaweed Nursery is here to support your operation. Based on the west coast of Scotland, our Nursery provides high-quality seeding material and specialist consultancy, built on over two decades of applied research in seaweed cultivation. 

As the UK’s first dedicated commercial macroalgae seedstock production facility, we work with farmers, practitioners, producers, researchers and project partners to facilitate sustainable industry development.  Through continued support from Argyll & Bute Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and the UK Government, our Seaweed Nursery has consistently expanded its on-site facilities, production capacity and applied research capability. 

Rooted in Scotland’s coastal communities, we are proud to support local practitioners and partners, while helping to build a more resilient and sustainable seaweed sector across the UK.

Close-up of seeded twine covered with young seaweed growth in a water-filled nursery tray at the SAMS Enterprise Seaweed Nursery.

Contact the team

Tel: +44 (0)1631 559470

Email us

How we support your operation

 

Seeded twine

For a new or established seaweed farm site, we can provide deployment-ready, high-quality seeded twine produced in our bio-secure nursery. Our seeded twine is produced in line with UK cultivation requirements and supplied in 100-metre lengths using site-specific strains. Using proven methodologies, our Nursery can produce up to 28 kilometres of seeded twine for seasonal deployment. 

If you are ordering from us for the first time, please contact us as early as possible. If you do not already have a culture held with us, it can take over a year to establish a new culture and develop enough material for deployment. If you need biological material to seed a new farm, we recommend contacting us as soon as you begin the farm licensing process.

Species we cultivate for seeded twine:

  • Alaria esculenta
  • Laminaria digitata
  • Laminaria hyperborea
  • Saccorhiza polyschides
  • Saccharina latissima

Biobanking services

Our biobanking services support the establishment and stabilisation of seaweed cultures for future cultivation, research or long-term storage. This can help protect genetic material, maintain seedstock across multiple seasons providing a foundation for future seeded twine or bulk culture production.

We offer two biobanking routes.

  • The Seaweed Biobanking Initiative is a tiered programme for seaweed farmers and biotechnology organisations.
    • Tier 1 is provided at no cost for eligible clients and supports culture establishment and stabilisation of cultures. These act as a suitable source of biological material for early-stage trials through to commercial farming.
    • Tier 2 is available as a paid service for clients who need more refined material, greater seedstock control or extended storage for onward production.
  • The Seaweed Nursery also offers commercial long-term care and storage of kelp gametophyte cultures for the preservation of genetic resources and use in research.

Bulk cultures

If you have your own nursery set-up or need material for direct seeding, our bulk culture service can provide ready-to-seed cultures to support your production plans. Our Seaweed Nursery can upscale mixed-sex and isolated-sex gametophytic cultures, with gametophytic and sporophytic cultures available depending on your requirements.

Species we cultivate for bulk cultures:

  • Alaria esculenta
  • Laminaria digitata
  • Laminaria hyperborea
  • Saccorhiza polyschides
  • Saccharina latissima

Consultancy and collaboration

If you are working in seaweed cultivation, our team can provide specialist consultancy and practical support. We work with farmers, practitioners, producers, businesses, research organisations and public-sector partners on species selection, collection and cultivation support, at-sea and terrestrial cultivation systems, seaweed farming licence and regulatory support, and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture research.

Our Seaweed Nursery is also available as a collaborative facility for research into seaweed cultivation. Using our laboratories and aquarium, we support the development and improvement of practical processes for the seaweed industry, including species trials, cultivation methodologies, farming material development, conservation and restoration.

Training through our Seaweed Academy

If you are looking to build skills or knowledge in seaweed cultivation, our Seaweed Academy offers training for professionals and organisations in the seaweed industry. Courses support skills development across the seaweed aquaculture sector, combining training, education and practical insight.

Who we work with

We work with farmers, practitioners, producers, researchers and project partners across the seaweed and wider aquaculture sector, providing nursery services, specialist consultancy and applied research support to help plan, develop and improve seaweed cultivation.

Seaweed farmers, practitioners and producers: We support production planning, seedstock protection and reliable cultivation through high-quality seeding material, biobanking, bulk cultures and practical cultivation support.

Research organisations and project partners: Our nursery expertise, laboratories and aquarium systems can support seaweed research, trials and collaborative work, including cultivation methodology development, species trials, farming material development, conservation and restoration.

Public-sector bodies, regulators and environmental stakeholders: Our specialist consultancy and scientific input can support seaweed cultivation planning, licensing, regulatory requirements, feasibility work and wider sector development.

Technology providers and aquaculture partners: We support innovation linked to seaweed cultivation, including at-sea and terrestrial systems, Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture research and the development or improvement of practical processes for the seaweed industry.