BACKGROUND

The Centre was established by Prof. M.D. Guiry (photo right side) as the Irish Seaweed Industry Organisation ( ISIO) in 1992 and in the reorganisation of the MRI has evolved into the Irish Seaweed Centre (ISC), a virtual institute for seaweed-based research. Since the new structure has been in place, where the centre reports to the MRI Development Office, which reports to the Director of the MRI, funding of the Centre has increased by 50%.    

The National Seaweed Forum, established by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources in October 1999, identified the need for the development of a commercial and viable seaweed Industry. To ensure the continued growth and sustainable development of this sector, the National Seaweed Forum Report (2000) states that research is urgently needed on developing new ways of adding value to the products and raw materials created by the sector. The Primary recommendation of the National Seaweed Forum Report was the establishment of the Irish Seaweed Centre (ISC), which was launched in 2001 as an initiative of:

The ISC, established in the Martin Ryan Institute as part of the Botany Department of the National University of Ireland, Galway, is one of the Research Centres in the Martin Ryan Institute. With its own management committee, external representatives and dedicated seaweed personnel it provides a wide spectrum of services in seaweed R&D for the private and public sectors. The ISC operates besides the existing Irish Seaweeds Industry Organisation (ISIO). The ISIO, consisting of members of the industry and external agencies, represents the Seaweed Industry at a local and national level.

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