About

About Óir na Farraige

Image: Simply Blue Group
Overview

At the heart of Óir na Farraige; meaning "Gold of the sea", is a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship and innovation.

We recognize seaweed as an extraordinary resource, offering a myriad of benefits—from biodiversity enhancement to carbon sequestration and nutrient absorption from ocean ecosystems. This project is our first step toward harnessing the ecological, economic, and social value that seaweed cultivation can bring to Ireland and beyond.

Through this initiative, we are not only working towards reducing the impact of climate change but also contributing to local communities by creating jobs and encouraging sustainable marine practices. Our ultimate goal is to establish large-scale, sustainable seaweed farms off the coast of Galway Bay, positioning Ireland at the forefront of the global seaweed industry.

Our Vision
Image: Simply Blue Group
Our Vision

Regenerative Ocean Farming

Up to 0.17
gigatons of carbon

can be sequestered
by seaweed per year

70%
of the world's oxygen

is produced by seaweed
and other marine plants

Up to 60 cm
growth per day

making it one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth

Image: Simply Blue Group
Image: Simply Blue Group
Driving Innovation through Global Collaboration


MoU with Arctic Seaweed

Simply Blue Group (sole partner of Óir na Farraige) and Arctic Seaweed have recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which will see them exploring solutions for co-locating seaweed farms among offshore wind farms. This collaboration will unlock cutting-edge technology from Arctic Seaweed, which provides a state-of-the-art production system, covering everything from seeding to harvesting and processing, and can be installed on the offshore support vessels currently used in wind farms. Through this partnership, Óir na Farraige will gain valuable insights and expertise, allowing them to apply this advanced knowledge to their own seaweed farming endeavours, enhancing efficiency and scalability.


North Sea Farm 1 Project Consortium

In addition to this MoU, Simply Blue Group joined the North Sea Farm 1 (NSF1) consortium in March 2024, contributing to the development of the world’s first commercial-scale seaweed farm within an offshore wind farm. Located off the coast of the Netherlands in the North Sea, this 10-hectare farm will be seeded in autumn 2024, with the first harvest expected in spring 2025. Sponsored by Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, NSF1 addresses climate targets by cultivating seaweed, which absorbs carbon dioxide and produces valuable biomass for use in pharmaceuticals, animal feed, and more. This project reinforces Simply Blue Group's commitment to replacing fossil fuels, developing sustainable protein sources, and supporting coastal communities through the multi-use potential of offshore wind farms. The NSF1 consortium, led by North Sea Farmers, brings together partners across Europe to cover the entire seaweed production supply chain. This includes researchers Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Deltares and Silvestrum Climate Associates, seaweed extract manufacturers Algaia and maritime contractors Doggerland.

Seaweed Image Gallery
Courtesy of North Sea Farmers and Smartland
Courtesy of Arctic Seaweed
Courtesy of North Sea Farmers
Courtesy of North Sea Farmers
Courtesy of North Sea Farmers
Courtesy of North Sea Farmers
Projects
Galway Bay Project

The Galway Bay project is Óir na Farraige’s flagship initiative aimed at establishing Ireland’s first large-scale offshore seaweed farm.

Located in Galway Bay, the project will create two pioneer seaweed farming sites by 2025, designed to prove the commercial viability of seaweed cultivation. The farms will serve as testing grounds for innovative cultivation techniques, contributing to environmental restoration by absorbing carbon, enhancing marine biodiversity, and supporting local economies.

Seaweed farms can play a starring role in helping to protect our seas and restore our coastal wildlife habitats. Seaweed could even help address the 'triple challenge' of feeding a global population, keeping global warming below 1.5°C - and reversing biodiversity loss.

This initiative aligns with Ireland’s goal of advancing sustainable marine practices while driving new economic opportunities for coastal communities through job creation and fostering sustainable development.

Proposed Project Timeline

2023
Site Investigation and License Application
License Awarded
Pilot Harvest
2031
Full Scale Operations