Gareth Murphy

• Leading the development of a national network to create a unified industry voice in a rapidly evolving, and challenging sector.
• Representing over 854 hectares of licensed seaweed aquaculture under development, this highlights the sector’s potential for significant growth within Irish aquaculture.
• Engaging with key stakeholders and regulatory bodies to support the delivery of licenses, and streamline sector development.
• Collaborating with funding bodies, including BIM, to ensure industry needs are represented, and to unlock investment opportunities.
• Driving consensus on the role of seaweed aquaculture in delivering nature-based solutions, and contributing to Ireland’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Advocating for the development of new markets and recognition of seaweed’s potential in climate resilience, biodiversity, and blue economy growth.

• Simply Blue work with the ocean to develop blue growth strategies globally and fight the biodiversity crisis. Simply Blue are part of a global movement focused on replacing fossil fuels with clean energy and developing sustainable sources of protein, while developing coastal economies with new projects and investment in happy co-existence. This enables blue to focus on future generations, create a sustainable future, and be a good ancestor.
• Nearshore Seaweed License: Leading the application and consenting process for a nearshore seaweed license, ensuring regulatory compliance and securing the necessary approvals to commence operations.
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• Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging with key stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, industry partners, and local communities, to foster collaboration and support for our seaweed initiatives.
• Research and Development: Leading research and development efforts to innovate and improve seaweed cultivation techniques, enhancing productivity and sustainability.
• Secured four competitive grants (€4.6M) for ongoing projects aligned with Simply Blue’s strategic development priorities.

Seaweed Project Manager, North Sea Farm 1, Netherlands.

• Leading the world’s first privately funded integrated seaweed and offshore wind farm, a flagship co-location project, is setting new standards for sustainable marine innovation.
• Negotiated and delivered a pioneering co-use agreement between Vattenfall and third-party partners—among the first agreements of its kind globally.
• Successfully led the cultivation strategy and delivered the first offshore seaweed harvest, completing all required technical tasks and project milestones.
• Brought the project through the full licensing and regulatory approval process, ensuring compliance with national and EU maritime regulations.
• Managing a complex international project located 12 miles offshore, coordinating a wide range of internal partners and high-profile stakeholders, including Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund.
• Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.

• Company Overview: Organic Irish Salmon Farm
• Leadership and Management: Successfully restarted and led the salmon hatchery, overseeing all aspects of operations and ensuring efficient and smooth daily running of the farm.
• Organic Certification: Achieved and maintained Naturland Organic Certification, ensuring the highest standards of organic farming and product quality were met consistently.
• Secured Financing: Secured essential financing for the hatchery, facilitating growth and expansion initiatives that supported long-term sustainability and profitability.
• Industry Recognition: Recognized as one of the Top 10 Under 40 in Hatchery International, demonstrating leadership, innovation, and significant contributions to the aquaculture industry.

• Leadership and Management: Successfully led and managed the MIS team through the entire production cycle, including preparing the Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIAR) for two sites, ensuring compliance and sustainable growth.
• Comprehensive Management: Oversaw all activities from food quality checks and customer orders to salmon feeding, ensuring efficient and smooth operations across the farm.
• Quality Assurance: Maintained the highest standards of quality control and biosecurity, ensuring our organic salmon consistently met and exceeded industry standards. Achieved and maintained Naturland Organic Certification.
• Business Growth: Delivered significant business growth through strategic planning and the development of key strategic partnerships, enabling multinational collaborations.
• Lead Representative: Attended food expeditions as the lead contact for Murphy’s Irish, strengthening the company’s presence and reputation in the market.
• Community Engagement: Fostered strong relationships with local communities and stakeholders, promoting the benefits of organic farming and contributing to local sustainability initiatives.

• Company Overview: Mussel Farm and Factory
• International Market Expansion: Successfully managed and expanded the company’s market reach, overseeing sales operations into 22 different countries, significantly increasing global presence and revenue.
• Strategic Business Sale: Led the strategic sale of the business, including managing due diligence processes, negotiating terms, and ensuring a seamless transition to new ownership.
• Team Leadership: Directed and motivated a diverse production team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high performance, which resulted in increased productivity and employee satisfaction.

• Company Overview: Marine Research Station
• Business Case Development: Led the development of a comprehensive business case, outlining strategic growth opportunities, operational efficiencies, and market potential to attract potential investors.
• Investment Preparation: Prepared the company for investment by optimizing financials, refining operational processes, and ensuring compliance with industry standards, positioning the business as an attractive investment opportunity.
• Secured Financing: Successfully secured essential financing, facilitating growth and expansion initiatives that supported the company’s long-term sustainability and profitability.
• Sale of Business: Oversaw the sale of the business, including managing the commercial due diligence process, negotiating terms, and ensuring a smooth transition for new ownership.