The Sea Grant network established the National Seaweed Hub to serve as a science-based, non-advocate resource for the domestic seaweed aquaculture industry and associated sectors. The National Seaweed Hub serves as a mechanism to address emerging challenges, share information, foster collaboration and ensure resource developed in response to various stakeholder needs are publicly accessible.

In order to better understand the current needs and challenges for all seaweed sectors across the country a comprehensive needs assessment of nine sectors including prospective farmers, current farmers, regulators, processors, culinary professionals, researchers, non-profits, federal agencies, and others was conducted in January 2020. Common needs were identified across multiple sectors, leading to the formation of topical stakeholder-driven Work Groups.

The first Sea Grant National Seaweed Symposium, held in Providence, RI in March of 2020, brought seaweed stakeholders from across the country to collaboratively address challenges, find solutions to needs, and pursue realistic opportunities to expand the emerging seaweed aquaculture industry. The National Seaweed Symposium included presentations on the global and national industries, and the results of the national needs assessment. In addition to establishing formal topical stakeholder-driven Work Groups, opportunities for multiple seaweed sectors to network and learn about one another’s challenges were also provided.

Virtual Work Groups were comprised of a diverse group of dedicated individuals from industry, regulatory authorities, processors, culinary professionals, researchers, and others who are committed to tackling barriers preventing domestic seaweed aquaculture from expanding and find practical solutions. Guided by trusted Sea Grant Extension professionals, Work Groups went through a series of exercises to prioritize challenges achievable in the short, medium and long-term.