A West Cork marine biotech has launched Ireland's first health supplement range made from native red seaweed.
Pure Ocean Algae has launched its new nutraceutical products in Ireland and the UK, with plans to expand into the EU and Asian markets later this year.
The range includes three capsule-based products that support hair and nail health, cognitive function and hormone balance. The company added that all the products are free of artificial additives.
Founder and CEO Michael O'Neill said the launch marks a shift towards high-value marine-derived wellness products.
"The red seaweed we cultivate is vastly different from wild-harvested dulse," he commented.
Because we control every stage of its development, we can enhance its bioactive properties and ensure a clean, consistent ingredient suitable for wellness applications.
Pure Ocean Algae, founded in 2019 by O’Neill—a former commercial fisherman turned sustainable aquaculture advocate—focuses on seaweed as a regenerative crop that needs no fertilisers, freshwater, or land.
The company has developed a production system for Palmaria palmata (dulse or dillisk), which includes hatchery operations, cultivation and processing to ensure quality and traceability.
Red seaweed is valued for its protein, amino acids and essential minerals, along with beneficial antioxidants.
Recently, Pure Ocean Algae invested in research and conducted human trials with the University of Limerick, leading to findings that support its expansion into the nutraceutical market.
"Ireland's seaweed farming sector is still in its infancy," O'Neill said.
There is huge potential driven by global demand for marine-derived ingredients.
The company has obtained private investment to expand sea sites in West Cork and increase hatchery production.
Richard Donnelly, Acting CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, said the launch highlights Ireland's growing marine innovation sector.
"Pure Ocean Algae is showing how sustainably farmed native seaweed can create high-value products for global health and wellness markets," he said.
Products are available online, with further international rollout planned in 2026.