Wool Revolution: Queen’s University Turns Sheep Fleece Into Plastic-Free Seaweed Farming

In a breakthrough that could reshape sustainable aquaculture, engineers from Queen’s University Belfast have spent two years proving that sheep wool can replace plastic ropes in seaweed farming. The project, which began on a small experimental farm in Strangford Lough, has now moved to industrial-scale trials in Norway and Iceland, offering a fully circular solution for an industry grappling with plastic waste.

The researchers used wool from Whiteface sheep bred on Dartmoor to create degradable ropes for growing kelp, a fast-growing brown seaweed. At harvest time, the wool ropes and any leftover seaweed biomass can be processed into fertiliser, eliminating the need for detergents and reducing microplastic pollution. Traditional plastic ropes, by contrast, require chemical cleaning, release microplastics as they wear, and often end up incinerated or in landfill. In Norway alone, an estimated 383 tonnes of these plastic ropes are lost at sea each year.

From Strangford Lough to the Norwegian Fjords

Dr Pamela Walsh, who led the project from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Queen’s, described the journey as “fantastic to watch this project grow from a small proof-of-concept at Queen’s University’s experimental farm on Strangford Lough to industrial-scale trials in Norway.” The initial work was funded by the EPSRC Impact Acceleration Account, which she called “the catalyst that enabled us to test the concept.”

Further backing from Innovate UK and Arctic Seaweeds allowed the team to test 100% pure wool longlines at the Trettosen Seaweed Farm in Bergen, Norway. The trials successfully cultivated three seaweed species: Ulva, Saccharina latissimi, and Alaria esculenta. The team describes this as a first for the industry.

Why This Matters for Ireland and the North

For communities across this island, the project carries a deeper resonance. Strangford Lough, a site of special scientific interest in County Down, is where the idea first took root. The work is a reminder that innovation can come from the ground up, rooted in local knowledge and natural resources. It also challenges the dominance of British and Norwegian industrial models, showing that small-scale, community-led solutions can scale without sacrificing the environment.

Kim Kristensen, chief executive and founder of Arctic Seaweed, said: “From the very first deployment of seeded lines 10 years ago, we have been looking for alternative solutions to the polyester fibre rope most commonly used to cultivate seaweed. We are thrilled to be part of this project, which is helping solve a key challenge in making seaweed farming more sustainable and circular.”

Kim Stead, founder of The Provenance Company, added: “Working with Queen’s University Belfast reflects years of collaboration, innovation, and belief that natural materials can play a vital role in solving some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. This opens an exciting new chapter for our farmers, British wool and British manufacturing, while contributing to a circular economy.”

A Quiet Revolution in the Atlantic

There is something deeply satisfying about this story. It is not loud or flashy. It is grounded in the wool of sheep that have grazed the moors for centuries, and in the patience of engineers who believed that a natural fibre could do what plastic cannot. For those of us who watch the tides and the fields, it feels like a small but significant step toward a future where industry and nature are not at war, but in partnership.

As the trials expand, the hope is that this wool-based system can be adopted by seaweed farmers across the North Atlantic, from the coasts of Donegal to the fjords of Norway. It is a reminder that the solutions to our environmental crises are often closer than we think, woven into the fabric of the land and the sea we call home.