If 2025 has taught us anything, it is that good things happen when you combine resilience with a bit of North Sea grit.
In a year that threw everything from economic headwinds to literal storms our way, SeaGrown hasn't just weathered the elements, we have thrived. We moved from "concept" to "validation," proving that nature-positive solutions belong at the very heart of the UK’s future.
From the top of the BT Tower to the salt spray of the Scarborough coast, here are the moments that defined our year.
We Brought It Home! - Innovation Recognised on the National Stage
In November, we headed south for Maritime Innovation Week 2025.
We were incredibly proud to take the stage alongside industry giants at the BT Tower in London and bring home the ‘Outstanding Sustainability Contribution’ award, presented by Hitachi Europe.
This wasn't just a trophy for the cabinet; it was a massive vote of confidence. It confirmed that seaweed cultivation is no longer a fringe interest; it is now recognised by leaders and policy-makers as a critical part of the Blue Economy.
Two government-backed projects, one clear direction of travel
This year, we completed two major government-backed programmes that have strengthened the evidence for how seaweed cultivation can support cleaner seas, healthier ecosystems, and scalable climate action.
Understanding ecosystem benefits at sea:
Through our mNCEA project, we worked alongside a wide range of stakeholders to better understand the environmental benefits of our work, and identify where the knowledge gaps were. The project highlighted an exciting increase in marine biodiversity around our site.
We found evidence of the farm acting as a vital feeding area for fish, seabirds, and marine mammals, including Harbour Porpoises and Bottlenose Dolphins. In fact, we were thrilled to identify the area as a potential hotspot for Kittwakes, proving that nature recovery and industry can co-exist. Alongside this, the data showed how our seaweed contributed to cleaner water by absorbing excess nutrients. A full report from this programme will be published in 2026.
Proving the pathway to scale:
Simultaneously, we completed a major project alongside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), focused on the practical challenge of scaling up. Over this three-year project, we developed and validated our Kelpedo™ system, including "Direct Seeding" and mechanised on-deck processes.
We have now shown that offshore seaweed cultivation can be deployed efficiently, safely, and repeatedly - moving the sector beyond small pilots toward commercial-scale delivery.
The Dream Team - New Faces, Fresh Energy
Technology means nothing without the crew to drive it. 2025 saw our team grow, adding a perfect mix of operational grit and scientific rigour to the roster.
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Jake H joined us with 16 years of fishing industry experience, bringing vital maritime skills to our operations.
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Will, who started his journey helping out on a temporary basis, stepped up as a full-time Crew Member on the deck of Bright Blue—a fantastic validation of our internal ORCA training programme.
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Ana joined as our new Scientist, reinforcing the rigorous academic standards that back up everything we do.
- Steph: Joined the team to manage the vital marine licensing and reporting that keeps our mission moving in the right direction.
The 2025 SeaGrown Crew:
From the deck of Bright Blue to the packing room floor, this is the team that keeps the operation moving. A huge thank you to Jo, Hong Chin, Imogen, Jamie H, Laura, Wave, Ana, Will, Jake H, Jamie R, John H, and Erik.
Future Innovators - From Primary Painters to World-Class Engineers
We were blown away by the next generation this year.
Locally, we were thrilled to see St Martin's Primary School win our inaugural "Design a SeaTree" competition with their beautiful vision of underwater biodiversity.
Globally, we watched with pride as SBA Unity Racing (from Scarborough UTC) took on the world. We partnered with them to offset their travel carbon, and they raced their way to a stunning 3rd Place Worldwide at the STEM Racing World Finals in Singapore.
From the classroom to the podium, the future of the coast is in very safe hands.
10,000 Thank Yous
And finally, a huge thank you to YOU - our community.
In November, we celebrated shipping our 10,000th online order. That is ten thousand pieces of the coast finding their way into homes across the UK. Whether you were stocking up on 'Hold Fast' Pale Ale or trying our new Seaweed Haircare range (launched in September to rave reviews!), your support keeps our crew on the water.
Bring on 2026
As we head into the festive break, the momentum is undeniable.
We enter the new year with proven technology, a stronger team, and some very exciting new partnerships on the horizon. The ocean is ready. And so are we.
Thank you to our investors, partners, and community for holding fast with us this year.
