A West Cork marine biotechnology company has launched Ireland’s first health supplement range made from native red seaweed.
Pure Ocean Algae, based on the Beara Peninsula, has brought its new nutraceutical products to market in Ireland and the UK, with plans to expand into EU and Asian markets later this year.
The range includes three capsule-based products. These target hair and nail health, cognitive support, and hormone balance. The company says all products are free from 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 said. “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 was founded in 2019. O’Neill, a former commercial fisherman, turned to sustainable aquaculture, identifying seaweed as a regenerative crop requiring no fertiliser, freshwater, or land.
The company has developed an end-to-end production system for Palmaria palmata, commonly known as dulse or dillisk. This includes hatchery, cultivation, and processing, aimed at ensuring quality and traceability.
Sea Science: Close-up of native red seaweed (dulse) in processing, the key ingredient behind Pure Ocean Algae’s new nutraceutical supplement range
Red seaweed is valued for its proteins, amino acids, and minerals, including iodine, magnesium, and iron. It also contains antioxidants and micronutrients used in functional foods.
Over the past two years, the company has invested in research, including human trials with the University of Limerick. Early findings on metabolic and digestive health supported its move into nutraceuticals.
“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 secured private investment to expand sea sites in West Cork and scale hatchery production.
Richard Donnelly, Acting CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, said the launch highlights Ireland’s growing marine innovation sector.
Hands On: Founder Michael O’Neill inspects native red seaweed at Pure Ocean Algae’s facility, with finished supplement products developed from cultivated dulse
“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.
