Seaweed is the common name for marine algae and are a group of species from the Protista kingdom that fall into three distinct groups:
- Brown Algae (Phaeophyta)
- Green Algae (Chlorophyta)
- Red Algae (Rhodophyta)
Although algae are not plants, they do share some basic characteristics with them. Like plants, marine algae use chlorophyll for photosynthesis. Seaweeds also have plant-like cell walls. However, unlike plants, seaweeds have no root or internal vascular systems, nor do they produce seeds or flowers, both of which are required to be classified as plants.[1]
Seaweeds are generally anchored to the sea bottom or other solid structures by rootlike “holdfasts,” which perform the sole function of attachment . A number of seaweed species are edible, and many are also of commercial importance to humans. Some are used as fertilizers or as sources of polysaccarides.
Seaweeds often form dense growths on rocky shores or accumulations in shallow water. Many show a well-established zonation along the margins of the seas, where the depth of the water is 50 metres or less. The types of seaweed growing near the high-water mark, where plants are often exposed to air, differ from those growing at lower levels, where there is little or no exposure.
Brown algae commonly found as seaweeds include kelps and Fucus. They are widely distributed in colder zones and are among the largest algae.
Red alga seaweeds include dulse (Palmaria palmata), Gelidium, Chondrus, and laver (Porphyra). Various species of Chondrus, including Irish moss (C. crispus), carpet the lower half of the zone exposed at low tide along rocky coasts of the Atlantic.
Ulva species, commonly called sea lettuce, are among the relatively few green alga seaweeds.[2]
[1]
[2] The editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Seaweed.” January 06, 2020.https://www.britannica.com/science/seaweed
 | Name: Andrew Mackenzie Position: Engineering Lecturer, UHI Outer Hebrides Innse Gall What you will be doing in the project? Project Managing the Project, arranging meetings, managing risk and contributing to the engineering aspects. Your favourite thing about seaweed? Its versatility – food, medicine, cosmetics, fertiliser etc. |
 | Name: Dr. Agnes Mols Mortensen Position: Owner and director of TARI – Faroe Seaweed What you will be doing in the project? In SW-Grow TARI-Faroe Seaweed will be cultivating the brown algal species Alaria esculenta and the red algal species Palmaria palmata. We will work on optimizing the quality of the produce by analysing microbiology in the seaweed tissue and also in the surrounding seawater. The seaweed tissue will be analysed for a wide variety of compounds including protein levels, vitamins, minerals, heavy metals, and bioactivity. TARI-Faroe Seaweed will take part in creating a DNA database by collecting samples from our seaweed farm and from natural populations in the Faroe Islands. One of the pilots in SW-Grow will be carried out in the Faroe Islands, and we will test if TARI-Faroe Seaweed’s hatchery can be run on renewable energy alone. Your favourite thing about seaweed? I am very interested in seaweed species diversity. I like growing seaweeds and experimenting with different cultivation techniques. Cooking with seaweed has become an integrated part of my daily life, and I like eating seaweeds and giving it to my children because it is healthy and nutritious. |
 | Name: Roy Bartle Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, UHI Outer Hebrides Innse Gall What I will be doing in the project? By background I am a thermofludicist, which is a fancy way of saying that I’m interested in how heat and fluids move and interact with each other. I have spent quite a few years creating and watching gas bubbles! For SW-GROW, I have designed an experimental seaweed drying facility and will be investigating how to dry seaweed efficiently using renewable energies whilst also achieving product quality for the many different uses of seaweed. Favourite thing about seaweed? Working on the puzzle that is effective seaweed drying – perhaps followed by a Seaweed Scotchtail |
 | Name: Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen Position:: Professor, Arctic Technology Centre, Sisimiut Campus, Technical University of Denmark What you will be doing in the project? My research lab looks at the quantitative microbial ecology in relation to how best to treat foods to achieve the optimum shelf-life and safety of the products. Seaweed is particularly interesting as little is known about the sensory, chemical and microbial quality changes in the different edible species from Greenland and elsewhere in the NPA region. We will look at these changes in fresh, dried and fermented seaweed from the area. Your favourite thing about seaweed? My favourite is to experiment with new ways of using seaweed in cooking. I mean why not using sugar kelp in cookies? |
 | Name: Cliodhna Ní Ghriofa Position: Project Officer, Údarás na Gaeltachta What you will be doing in the project? I will be managing the communication and dissemination of the project, alongside assisting some associate partners or SME’s in the seaweed sector here in Ireland. Your favourite thing about seaweed? I used to avoid seaweed at all costs when swimming in the sea, as I feared all the creatures hiding in the sea forest! However, now I can appreciate the habitat that seaweed gives to many sea creatures. I love the versatility of seaweed, and how it does not taste too strongly when added to cooked meals and gives a fantastic umami flavour. The health benefits of seaweed is one of my favourite things, from heart health, reducing cancer risk and packed full of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals- we should all be consuming more seaweed in our diet! |