August 28, 2025 — Florida’s coastline may one day host more than oysters, clams, fish and shrimp. Researchers at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) and Florida Sea Grant are asking whether seaweed could be the state’s next big sustainable crop.
The effort, launched last year with a $250,000 grant from NOAA’s National Sea Grant Aquaculture Program, brings together scientists, industry partners and Extension agents to answer whether seaweed is a good fit for Florida. The findings could pave the way for a thriving seaweed farming industry much like it serves as a high-value crop in regions in Europe and the Americas.
Led by Ashley Smyth, an associate professor of soil, water and ecosystem sciences at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center, the project team shared updates recently that sparked strong interest from researchers, aquaculture professionals and entrepreneurs in exploring the feasibility and economic potential of seaweed farming in Florida.
“Seaweed aquaculture has tripled over the past two decades — with Asia producing nearly all the supply — and it’s one of the fastest-growing commodity sectors globally,” said Angela Collins, Florida Sea Grant assistant Extension scientist specializing in marine fisheries and shellfish aquaculture at the UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Lab and a co-principal investigator on the project.
Smyth explained that the research focuses on the potential and the
practical limits of cultivating seaweed in Florida’s warm waters.
“Seaweed acts like a sponge, pulling excess nitrogen out of the water,” she said. “If harvested, it removes that nitrogen completely, which means it could serve as both a product for growers and a tool for improving water quality.”
Florida’s unique environment presents opportunities and unknowns.