Image Source: Shetland Seaweed Growers Project 2014-2016, “Figure 3” in Seaweed Cultivation Manual, 2021, Seaweed-Cultivation-Manual.pdf

Site Suitability Modelling of Seaweed Farms within Welsh marine waters

GSD successfully provided contracted GIS services for Project Madoc, a feasibility study investigating the potential for sustainable cultivation of native species of seaweed in multiple identified locations in Wales, funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

The aim of the project was to help make fisheries and aquaculture projects more sustainable, protect the marine environment, and support growth and jobs in coastal communities; Wales’ 2,704 km of varied coastline shows great potential for developing seaweed cultivation. 

Working closely with one of Wales’ experts on seaweed farms, GSD provided specialist services to identify site suitability across a range of variables, providing research, geoprocessing, and data analysis. Variables included, for example, information on tides, wave height, bathymetry, light attenuation, and sea surface temperature. To identify suitable sites, a multi-criteria overlay analysis was done, which combines different layers of spatial data such as satellite imagery to assess complex scenarios where multiple spatial factors are considered simultaneously. The client received various high-quality maps presenting the results as well as bespoke training in data handling and map making from our GIS experts, enabling them to better understand and reproduce results. 

A yet mostly untapped natural resource, seaweed provides an excellent and sustainable opportunity for coastal communities to revive and bolster their economy with a product that is crucial for our ecosystem. The outputs developed at GSD can be used to inform relevant public authorities and environmental planning decision-making.