SeaGrown

Find out more about SeaGrown and our operations

ABOUT US

Our Story

We live in a time of unprecedented environmental challenges. The Triple Planetary Crisis – climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss – is impacting every corner of the planet. Rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, pollution , and the collapse of marine ecosystems are clear reminders of the urgent need for action.

At SeaGrown, we believe there is hope through action, and it lies beneath the waves.

Inspired by the resilience and restorative properties of seaweed, we – the founders of SeaGrown – embarked on a mission: to improve the health of our oceans and combat climate change through sustainable seaweed cultivation. It started with a simple, powerful question: how can we harness the ocean's own power to heal itself? The answer, we discovered, was growing all around us, in the kelp that grows around our coasts - and here on the Yorkshire coast.

Based on the rugged and beautiful North Yorkshire Coast, SeaGrown has developed a pioneering approach to seaweed cultivation. One that works with nature, and with people. Our seaweed sites act as underwater oases, directly addressing all aspects of the Triple Planetary Crisis. Seaweed absorbs excess nutrients, reducing pollution and improving water quality. Seaweed captures carbon from the atmosphere and the ocean, mitigating the impacts of climate change. And seaweed creates vital habitats for a diverse array of marine species, helping to restore biodiversity.

We are committed to proving that business, community and environmental stewardship can be powerful allies. Every SeaGrown product, every kelp frond we cultivate, is a testament to our belief in a future where thriving oceans and thriving communities go hand in hand.

We're not just growing seaweed; we're growing a more sustainable future, one wave at a time.

LAURA & WAVE

Our Founders

SeaGrown's journey began in one of the most remote and fragile environments on Earth - Antarctica. Aboard an icebreaker cutting through frozen seas, Laura was conducting climate research, while Wave was navigating the ship through unpredictable waters.

Witnessing firsthand the accelerating impacts of climate change, we knew we had to act.

Back home, we turned our attention to the ocean’s untapped potential for climate solutions. Traditional aquaculture wasn’t built for offshore environments, yet seaweed has the power to improve water quality, absorb carbon, restore marine ecosystems, and feed a growing population. We set out to redesign seaweed aquaculture for the open ocean, blending marine engineering with regenerative aquaculture.

What began as a conversation on an Antarctic icebreaker is now a pioneering initiative that could transform our ocean spaces into thriving carbon sinks and biodiversity hubs, paving the way for a sustainable blue economy.

Laura Robinson (Professor of Oceans, Climate and Society) brings decades of scientific expertise to SeaGrown. As a distinguished marine scientist, her research has taken her all over the world – from the Arctic to the Antarctic – and to the bottom of the sea. Her research has focused on the role of the oceans in climate change, and on understanding and protecting marine ecosystems. Her deep knowledge of seaweed's ecological role and her commitment to evidence-based science are integral to SeaGrown's mission. Laura ensures that everything SeaGrown does is grounded in sound science and contributes to a healthier ocean.

Capt. Wave Crookes' connection to the sea runs deep. Starting at sea as a fisherman out of Scarborough he learnt the ropes from a young age. Years spent at sea in the Navy, the RNLI, and the merchant navy (including the British Antarctic Survey where he met Laura) gave him in depth knowledge and experience in every aspect of marine operations - witnessing firsthand the challenges facing our marine environments. Driven by a desire to make a tangible difference, he saw the potential of seaweed cultivation as a way to actively restore ocean health and bring something back to his home town.