Ever wondered where our mighty kelp forests begin their life? Meet the brilliant Dr. John T, our Science Technician and the mastermind behind our shore-based seaweed hatchery! His work is the crucial first step in our entire sustainable cultivation cycle, giving our future underwater ecosystems the absolute best start.

John’s world is one of meticulous detail and technical expertise. As a trained Oceanographer with a PhD, he is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the complex life-support systems that act as a nursery for our kelp. Working closely with our husbandry experts like Imogen, he ensures these systems provide the perfect conditions – from water flow and light cycles to the precise balance of nutrients – for our microscopic young seaweed to thrive before its journey to our offshore cultivation site.

His attention to detail is legendary among the crew. In fact, there's a running joke here that thanks to his incredible filtration systems, John has the cleanest seawater this side of the Maldives running through the hatchery! 

But his expertise isn't confined to the shore. John also heads out to sea with the crew, where the team relies on his oceanographic expertise to monitor crucial ocean parameters vital for our seaweed’s success. This is in addition to collecting vital biodiversity data for our sites, connecting his scientific insight from the hatchery right through to our work in the North Sea.

"It’s a huge challenge to replicate the perfect ocean conditions on land, but it's incredibly rewarding," says John. "Getting the hatchery environment exactly right is the foundation for everything we do offshore."

It has been a monumental effort to design and perfect our hatchery systems to where they are today, and we couldn't be more thankful for John's dedication and immense skill!