Sorry, looks like we don't have enough of this product.
Your cart is currently empty.
SeaGrown, Yorkshire Water, and The Crown Estate: The Cleaner Seas Partnership
Innovation in Action
SeaGrown, Yorkshire Water and The Crown Estate have joined forces to launch a ground-breaking bathing water quality trial right here in Scarborough. Using SeaGrown’s expertise in seaweed and shellfish cultivation, the partnership is testing how nature can help clean our seas.
A New Collaboration for Cleaner Seas
Seaweed and shellfish are nature’s ocean cleaning system. Shellfish actively remove harmful bacteria, seaweed absorbs excess nutrients from the water and releases oxygen, whilst creating thriving habitats for marine life.
Using the Kelpedo™ system developed here in Scarborough, we will be growing seaweed and shellfish in the North Bay to demonstrate their power.
The data gathered from this trial will help shape the future of nature-based solutions for improving bathing water quality around the UK coastline.
The project is a temporary scientific trial taking place in Scarborough’s North Bay. It is a partnership between SeaGrown, Yorkshire Water and The Crown Estate designed to measure the potential of seaweed and shellfish to improve coastal water quality.
The primary goal is data collection. We are deploying seaweed and mussels to measure their ability to absorb excess nutrients (such as nitrates and phosphates) and remove bacteria from the water. The project will quantify exactly how effective these natural organisms are at acting as "bio-filters" for our coastline.
The two-year project is in its planning and licensing phase. The installation is scheduled to start in Summer 2026.
We will be installing 16 Kelpedo units to grow seaweed and shellfish for environmental monitoring and ecosystem services.
The trial site is located in North Bay. The specific site has been selected to maximise data collection while minimising disruption to other water users. A map of the proposed zone is available on this page.
The project team has conducted an extensive assessment of the area to minimise impact on other marine users, including consultations with the local IFCA (Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority) and the NFFO (National Federation of Fisheries Organisation). The site will be fully licensed and clearly marked in accordance with all maritime safety standards. Not only will there be minimal direct impact on other marine users, but cleaner water will benefit everyone.
Improving coastal water quality is a shared challenge affecting everyone who lives and works on the coast. SeaGrown brings the technology; Yorkshire Water provides the resources; and The Crown Estate, as managers of the seabed, provide the vital lease and strategic support to make this initial trial possible.
This project is a scientific trial, not an immediate fix. While we know that seaweed and mussels naturally clean water, we need to generate specific data that will let us optimise the impact, for example, where is the best location? This project is about gathering the evidence required to inform future projects to use seaweed and shellfish to improve bathing water quality.
The primary function of the seaweed and shellfish in this trial is to help make the North Bay cleaner. The science team will conduct regular monitoring of bacterial removal and nutrient uptake, as well as biodiversity uplift. During the season, samples will be taken for scientific analysis and routine inspections will be made to the equipment whilst in-service.
Your feedback on the North Bay cleaner seas partnership has been received. We’re collating all responses to help shape the next phase of the project.
— The SeaGrown Team
