Demonstration SItes
Explore our four European demonstration sites, showcasing diverse land-based and sea-based seaweed cultivation systems and their unique regional characteristics.
To ensure maximum resource efficiency and product quality across all four European regions, every SALINA demonstration site is built upon a rigorous, three-part scientific foundation.
Phase 1: Precision strain selection & indoor hatcheries
SALINA uses a multi-criteria scoring system to match the perfect macroalgae strain to the right site and the final B2B/B2C products (food, cosmetics, and construction).
Target species evaluated
Palmaria palmata, Ulva spp., Saccharina latissima, Alaria esculenta, Gracilaria gracilis, Porphyra spp., and Codium vermilara.
The selection process
At least 2 strains per species are analysed based on biological growth data, biochemical profiles (proteins, fibers, and bioactives), ecological compatibility, and market potential.
Traceability
Selected strains undergo genetic barcoding (Sanger sequencing) to ensure absolute traceability from laboratory to final product.
Hatchery testing
Before sea or land deployment, farmers run indoor hatchery-scale trials to establish Standard Operating Procedures for propagation and to test how strains handle site-specific light, temperature, and salinity.
Phase 2: Environmental modeling & governance mapping
To ensure our sites are both ecologically sustainable and legally compliant, SALINA combines cutting-edge data science with maritime policy frameworks.
Activity
Geospatial modeling
Policy & licensing
Governance harmonisation
Methodology & tools
Processing data from EMODnet, Copernicus Marine Service, and Bio-Oracle using weighting algorithms in R Project.
Reviewing national frameworks under the EU Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) Directive and the Common Fisheries Policy.
Semi-structured consultations with maritime authorities and port managers.
Objective
To establish environmental and infrastructural baselines for our 4 sites, and identify 25+ additional high-potential zones for future replication across Europe.
To map out licensing roadmaps and conduct comparative analyses of barriers/enablers in 8 target countries (ES, DK, FO, IE, UK, PT, FR, NO).
To identify transferable, streamlined governance solutions that make scaling the blue bioeconomy easier.
Phase 3: Tailored technology deployment
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to seaweed farming. Based on the data gathered in Phases 1 and 2, SALINA designs, constructs, and operates a custom portfolio of scalable cultivation technologies.
By deploying a mix of land-based tank systems (on-shore) and marine infrastructure (off-shore), SALINA’s sites are specifically engineered to withstand local climatic and oceanographic contexts while demonstrating maximum biomass productivity and resource efficiency.
Demonstration Sites Map
North-East Atlantic
At the Irish site, MUNGO will operate an IoT-assisted indoor tank system to cultivate Ulva spp. and P. palmata, combining wind-powered automation with nutrient recycling from shellfish tanks.
Mediterranean Sea
In the Ebro Delta, ALGAB will coordinate two hybrid marine systems to cultivate multiple seaweed species, combining biomass production alongside fish cages and mussel rafts with local habitat restoration.
North Atlantic
At the Faroe Islands site, TARI will operate a land-based hatchery and an off-shore marine farm to cultivate five different seaweed species, combining weather-resilient infrastructure with multi-species polyculture to enhance local biodiversity.
Baltic Sea
At the Kerteminde Bay site, KERTE will operate a scalable off-shore rig system to cultivate three seaweed species alongside blue mussels and flat oysters, combining organic-certified farming procedures with low-trophic species co-cultivation.
To optimise these operations, all sites will follow synchronised harvesting cycles aligned with local ecological regulations. Under CIIMAR’s coordination, farmers will continuously monitor water quality, productivity, and biodiversity to deliver high-resolution data on seasonal growth.
This data will establish standardised procedures for environmental compliance and economic viability, proving a scalable blueprint for sustainable aquaculture across Europe.