Exploring the Seaweed Industry: A South Korean Study Tour

Recently, Owen from Câr-y-Môr embarked on a unique journey to South Korea, participating in a seaweed and shellfish study tour organised by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). This trip offered a deep dive into the potential of the seaweed industry.

Over eight days, the group visited seaweed farms, research facilities, and hatcheries. They toured a seaweed noodle factory and a food processing business, showcasing the economic potential of seaweed. The group also met with local government officials and members of the South Korea Phycology Society, gaining valuable insights into the local seaweed industry.

The trip was a fantastic opportunity to build relationships and foster cooperation. The group quickly built relationships and started to share ideas and experiences. This was facilitated by the excellent organisation of the trip and the infectious enthusiasm and comprehensive knowledge of the tour chair.

The WWF's pioneering leadership on seaweed farming is truly commendable, and we are grateful for their efforts in arranging and funding this trip. The trip was a resounding success, achieving its crucial aims of building trust and friendship within the group and gaining contacts for further development after the trip.

The National Institute of Fishery Science, established in 1921, has 15 research centres and 18 research vessels. A significant amount of its work is focused on seaweed, including the production of seaweed manual books. They are currently researching seaweed, shellfish, and fish species that will be able to handle an increase in water temperatures.

The International Symposium on the Seaweed Industry in Korea and Global Collaborations, hosted by the Korean Society of Phycology, highlighted several key points. These included the need for phycologists to be trained to overcome climate change and the ongoing research into the importance of seaweed farming as a carbon sink. The potential economic and blue carbon benefits of seaweed farming are now being realised around the world, and as more people become interested, we need to address the challenges of licenses, funding, hatchery supplies of the best strains, and seaweed processing into food and non-food products.

In conclusion, this study trip to South Korea was a resounding success, providing invaluable insights into the seaweed industry and fostering international collaboration. We look forward to applying the knowledge gained and the relationships built to further our work in seaweed farming at Câr-y-Môr.