Minister to propose bill regulating marine macroalgae farming

Industry Minister Hanna Katrín Friðriksson will introduce a bill this autumn on farming macroalgae in the sea, mbl.is reported. She announced the plan in her opening speech at the Gold in Shallow Waters conference, held at the Breið innovation centre in Akranes on Thursday afternoon.

Representatives of several companies and associations spoke at the conference about opportunities in the use and cultivation of macroalgae, including for food, dietary supplements, animal feed and medicines.

Friðriksson said marine macroalgae farming was a young industry in Iceland. Although interest exists and trials are under way, the current regulatory framework was not specifically designed for the sector.

The bill will aim to establish a clear, predictable and efficient legal framework to support research, development and job creation while ensuring that cultivation is conducted responsibly, she said.

It is expected to provide for both research and operating licences. Research licences would allow new methods to be tested, data to be collected and knowledge to be developed before larger operations begin. Operating licences would include clear requirements concerning location, equipment, cultivation material, monitoring, information sharing and site restoration.

The minister also said marine and coastal areas had to be treated as shared spaces where interests including shipping, fishing, fish farming, nature conservation, tourism and outdoor activities overlap.

She stressed the importance of dialogue between the authorities and the industry in shaping the bill and any regulations that may follow.