EU4Algae serves as an information hub for the algae sector, providing stakeholders with updates on the latest news, events, and developments in the algae industry.
In the EU4Algae’s Licensing Toolkit section, you can discover the purpose of a licensing toolkit and learn more about its key objectives. When starting a seaweed farm, one of the first steps is applying for a licence, guaranteeing the right to farm a plot of ocean. Being a novel and evolving industry in Europe, licensing procedures are often not well established. This means that the licence application process can be anything but straightforward, requiring knowledge, time, and resources to complete.
To aid in this process, Seaweed for Europe has compiled general, and country-specific information and resources to guide future farmers through their licensing journey. These resources include:
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General considerations and learnings: Knowledge about obtaining a seaweed farming licence, expectations during the licensing process, and pointers for success.
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Country-specific licensing processes: Detailed steps and common obstacles encountered when applying for a seaweed farm licence in a specific European country.
Licensing Toolkit – Sweden: Overview
The latest addition to the country-specific licensing processes is the Licensing Toolkit for Sweden. The authority in charge is Länsstyrelsen (County Administrative Board) and/or Mark och Miljödomstolen (Land and Environment Court). The average duration of the process is highly variable, ranging from 6 months to 2 years, and the legal cost depends on the cost of the water activity plus a deposit.
The process is divided into three phases:
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Preparation (1-3 months)
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The tasks will include:
- Project definition (location, target size, type of equipment and techniques, potential impacts, etc.); pre-engagement with stakeholders; and documentation preparation.
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Public Consultation & Licence Draft (9 months, but highly variable)
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The tasks will include:
- Advertisement and public consultation; remediation/address feedback; and license draft including conditions.
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Installation (minimum 1 month)
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The tasks will include:
- Pre-installation; and installation.
Some of the challenges may include:
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Undefined boundaries between private/public waters can confuse.
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Limited data on the site’s year-round characteristics.
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A large consulting circle is required to ensure all stakeholders can comment.
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Prompt response to feedback and queries to avoid delays.
Among others.
Learn this and more by accessing the Licensing Toolkit – Sweden.
For any questions or additional information related to this Licensing Toolkit for Sweden, please contact Izabela Alias at Izabela [dot] Alias
jordbruksverket [dot] se (Izabela[dot]Alias[at]jordbruksverket[dot]se).
Contact us to be featured as a fellow farmer
Are you a Swedish seaweed farmer, or in the last strives of establishing your seaweed farm? If so, we would be interested in featuring you here as an inspiring example for future seaweed farmers. If you would like to be showcased, please contact us at: contacteu4algae [dot] eu (contact[at]eu4algae[dot]eu).
Additional information
Join the #EU4Algae conversation and don’t forget to keep an eye on the EU4Algae Forum to stay updated and learn more about the ongoing activities, initiatives and updates on the development of the EU4Algae Forum online.
To contact us, please use the following email: contacteu4algae [dot] eu (contact[at]eu4algae[dot]eu).
Did you hear about the new EU4Algae Interactive Platform?
Designed to promote awareness and acceptance of algae products while helping increase the level of consumer algae-related knowledge and preferences for algae products, the EU4Algae Interactive Platform lets you take the EU4Algae Quiz to test your algae knowledge, answer a Survey to tell us a bit about your algae-eating habits (the first 200 responses get a free eBook!) and play the interactive Game to find out what kind of algae you are.