Andrew Payne-Cook, 48, is planning to establish what he believes would be Sussex's first seaweed farm, located five kilometres offshore between Sussex and the Isle of Wight. The proposed farm would span 25 hectares, an area comparable to around 30 football pitches.
Payne-Cook intends to mainly cultivate sugar kelp, grown on long lines attached to buoys two to four metres below the water's surface. He hopes to plant a trial farm by October, pending approval of his idea.
His background is in the fuel industry, but he expressed a desire to pursue something more sustainable, stating, "Kelp farming has a massive future, it's a future billion dollar blue industry." Seaweed from the farm could be used for fertiliser, food, and pharmaceuticals.
An application for a marine licence has been submitted to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), the official regulator for England's seas. The MMO confirmed that the application is under consideration as part of the normal licensing process, with initial consultations completed and the public consultation period now closed.