That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Seaweed Industry Association (SSIA) on the return of its conference to Oban, which took place from 14 to 16 November 2023; understands that there were 170 attendees including scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers and that it was the first conference for three and a half years; notes that, over the last 10 years, 12 seaweed licences have been approved, from Kilchoan to the Isle of Skye; agrees with SSIA that Oban is rapidly emerging as the focal point for Scottish seaweed, and welcomes that, as part of the UK Levelling Up Fund, the UK Government's Community Renewal Fund awarded almost £408,000 in funding for the Seaweed Academy project at the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), to provide training and research which, it understands, will sustain and strengthen the seaweed industry in Scotland.
Supported by:
Clare Adamson, Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Bill Kidd, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Douglas Ross, Alexander Stewart, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle