What is the National Hatchery Network (NHN)?

The NHN is a multi location research facility launched in 2023 to turbo-charge the growth of Australia’s sustainable seaweed and aquaculture industry. The two NHN hubs located in Adelaide and Townsville have been developed by the Australian Sustainable Seaweed Alliance (ASSA) and feature dedicated scientific lab space, cutting-edge research equipment and specialist outdoor seaweed growing areas.

What was the NHN set up to do?

The network is designed to support the nation’s emerging seaweed industry by filling significant gaps in knowledge and other challenges to growth that were identified following a year-long review. The two hubs employ teams of dedicated ASSA researchers who are developing experiments on seaweed cultivation to support new growers who may wish to enter the market.

Ten years ago, nobody was talking about seaweed. What’s all the excitement about?

Of course, First Nations peoples have known about the benefits of seaweed for millennia – for food, medicine, as a healthy habitat for other sea life, even as a material for forming into vessels, shelter, and myriad other uses.

With a new focus on fresh ingredients and sustainable farming in the 21st century, our industry started looking at these beneficial plants sitting right under our noses.

In 2014, scientists at the CSIRO and James Cook University discovered that a red seaweed abundant in Australian waters, Asparagopsis, contains compounds that inhibit the production of methane when added to the feed of ruminant livestock. There’s a lot of excitement among scientists here and abroad about the potential to slash farm-based methane emissions, which account for a whopping 16 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions. If red seaweed was fed to all cattle and sheep in Australia, we would be well on our way to cutting nearly 12 per cent of our national greenhouse gas emissions. It’s a huge opportunity to make a real difference.

What are some other potential uses for seaweed?

Thanks to an explosion of energy and investment in new high-tech applications, there are some promising new segments for the seaweed industry, including for Ulva and Kelp. Its not just about Asparagopsis. These segments include bio-stimulants, nutritional supplements, bioplastics and fabrics. Seaweed can further be used to treat wastewater and applied as a natural filter in aquaculture (e.g. in fish and oyster farming). There are also opportunities as a high end and fresh local and exported food option.

What are the projections for the size of the industry in Australia?

We’re on target for rapid growth: ASSA’s Australian Seaweed Industry Blueprint forecast $100 million in GVP and the creation of 1200 direct jobs in regional and coastal communities in the coming years. This lays the foundations for a potential major $1.5 billion industry set to create 9,000 jobs by 2040.

How will ASSA and its producers navigate the issue of ocean licence availability in Australia?

Securing commercial-scale ocean leases is a core challenge for seaweed producers. Ocean leases are highly competitive with other industries and variable state regulations make it incredibly challenging for farmers to navigate. ASSA has recenntly contracted some work to progress development in this area. In the short term, commercial industry development is focused on states where ocean leases are more readily available and ASSA will continue to support industry and collaborate with state and federal governments to explore the expansion of licences across all States as well as the NT.

Securing local community support when proposing any new seaweed cultivation site might be a challenge at times. How do you navigate this, both now and in the future?

Engaging communities will be critical to building a successful seaweed industry of the future. We support our members to do this in a range of ways, including raising public awareness about the benefits of seaweed aquaculture through extensive community stakeholder engagement, and also via consultation on site selection.

Beyond the benefits for the nation, including methane reduction, it's also critical that we shine a light on the numerous benefits that the commercialisation of seaweed products can offer a community, including job creation, particularly in regional areas. We have growing numbers of scientists, technicians, farmers and mum-and-dad entrepreneurs exploring opportunities around seaweed cultivation right across the country, as we speak.

With the right early government supports, the future is very bright for this industry.

Where can I find out more?

Send an email to info@seaweedalliance.org.au and we will be happy to help where we can and when resources allow. And keep an eye out over the next 6-12 months for some updates on ASSA contracted projects which will provide valuable new online resources not just for potential scientists and growers, but also for students, teachers and for the general public.