Seaweed Biotechnology in Aquaculture Systems

Seaweed biotechnology in aquaculture systems encompasses the cultivation, processing and utilisation of marine macroalgae to enhance the sustainability and productivity of aquatic farming. Macroalgae, classified into brown, red and green taxa, serve as ecological engineers by assimilating excess nutrients, mitigating eutrophication and providing valuable feedstock for aquafeeds, nutraceuticals and biofuels. Advances in integrated multi-trophic aquaculture enable seaweeds to be co-cultivated with finfish and shellfish, closing nutrient loops and reducing the environmental footprint of traditional monocultures. Biorefinery approaches exploit the cascading valorisation of seaweed biomass, recovering proteins, polysaccharides and bioactive compounds for high-value applications while generating minimal waste. Current research aims to optimise growth conditions, develop robust cultivars and refine processing technologies to improve yield, quality and economic viability. The global expansion of seaweed farming is driven by its potential to support food security, mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration and foster a circular bioeconomy. Real-world deployments in Asia, Europe and the Americas illustrate the versatility and scalability of seaweed biotechnology across diverse environmental and regulatory contexts.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have quantified the ecosystem services and safety profile of farmed seaweeds in large commercial operations. One analysis demonstrates that large-scale seaweed farms can remove significant proportions of nitrogen and phosphorus inputs to coastal waters, projecting the potential to alleviate eutrophication in key production regions within a decade of current growth rates. A complementary investigation has assessed the distribution of metals and metalloids in dried seaweed biomass, revealing that while hazard indices remain below thresholds for general consumers, ongoing monitoring is essential to ensure feed and food safety in aquaculture supply chains.

Seaweed Biotechnology in Aquaculture Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in seaweed biotechnology in aquaculture systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Macroalgae: Multicellular marine algae, commonly referred to as seaweeds, classified into Phaeophyta (brown), Rhodophyta (red) and Chlorophyta (green) groups.

Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA): A farming approach that co-cultivates species from different trophic levels—such as fish, shellfish and seaweed—to recycle nutrients and enhance system efficiency.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): A methodology for quantifying the environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life, from raw material extraction through processing, use and disposal.

Bioremediation: The process by which organisms, including seaweeds, remove or neutralise pollutants such as excess nutrients from the environment.

Aquafeed: Feed formulated for farmed aquatic organisms, often incorporating seaweed-derived proteins, polysaccharides and bioactive compounds to improve nutrition and health.

References

1. Seaweed aquaculture in Norway: recent industrial developments and future perspectives. Aquaculture International (2017).
2. Nutrient removal from Chinese coastal waters by large-scale seaweed aquaculture. Scientific Reports (2017).
3. Distribution of metals and metalloids in dried seaweeds and health risk to population in southeastern China. Scientific Reports (2018).
4. Environmental performance of seaweed cultivation and use in different industries: A systematic review. Sustainable Production and Consumption (2024).
5. Biorefinery of the green seaweed Ulva lactuca to produce animal feed, chemicals and biofuels. Journal of Applied Phycology (2016).