The Irish seaweed industry is already worth £5 million annually, but less than half the staple crop is being harvested at a time of growing world demand for the marine vegetable, according to a survey.
The coastline has the potential to yield almost 75,000 tonnes of knotted wrack - twice the amount currently harvested to supply the European alginate industry.
Seaweed is most valued in Asia for its nutritional benefits, but the market is also expanding in the USA, Canada and some parts of western Europe.
What's more, this island could easily rival Norway or France in kelp production. Yet little use is being made here of the lucrative species, the survey by the Irish Seaweed Industry Organisation (ISIO) states.
The algal biomass survey, which was presented to the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, in NUI Galway yesterday, claims to be the single most significant seaweed research project commissioned in the State. Prof Michael Guiry of NUI Galway is one of its co-authors.
Supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the Marine Institute, it was carried out by the ISIO at NUI Galway's Martin Ryan Marine Science Institute in an attempt to boost the growing industry on the western seaboard.
Irish seaweed production is very small, at 45,000 tonnes annually, compared to a global figure of 7.5 million tonnes. It employs 500 people in seasonal harvesting and processing - many in areas where employment opportunities are lacking.
Although this coastline has over 50 types, the survey concentrates on the most commercially important - the wracks, particularly ascophyllum nodosum, and the laminarians or kelps.
Knotted wrack is plentiful in sheltered areas, and most of the harvested biomass is used to produce seaweed meal for the European alginate industry.
Kelps are also used for alginates - essential for thickening and gelling agents in food, and for the pharmaceutical and textile printing industries.
Arramara Teoranta is the major processor for ascophyllum here, but Kerry Algae also has plans to establish an alginate plant. The survey, which maps distribution on a county by county basis from Donegal to Cork, concludes that there is certainly enough raw material to sustain such a plant. It also notes that the State has an "enormous" kelp resource, covering about 56 per cent of the west coast, but says its value has scarcely been identified. The survey calls on the Government to tackle new legislation on licensing; to clarify responsibility for maintenance of slipways and piers; to streamline the roles of various State research and development agencies and to appoint a seaweed development officer.
Some Irish companies are now seeking organic status for human food application.
However, the ISIO notes that this will require vetting by an organic licensing authority, and says it is confident that companies should be able to apply within a few months.
The foundation stone for Galway Harbour Company's new offices was laid by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Dr Woods, at New Pier, Galway Docks, yesterday. Dr Woods also opened the company's new warehouse at its enterprise park.
The Minister awarded ISO 9002 accreditation to Aqua-Fact International Services, a private company offering specialised consultancy work to marine and freshwater users, which was involved in the seaweed survey.
Aqua-Fact was established in 1986, and employs 12 people. It was recently awarded a grant by the Marine Institute under the EU marine operation programme to develop a hydrodynamic model of Irish coastal waters, and is currently undertaking a study of the socio-economic impact of fisheries and aquaculture on west coast communities.
