Câr-Y-Môr

Bringing New Life to St Justinians: A Community Vision We have a special opportunity to breathe life back into old, disused lifeboat stations at St Justinians, creating a marine hub that supports both the local community and the natural world, while giving these listed buildings a new purpose. Our hope is to: 👉 Use the momentum of this project to secure a future for wildlife boat trips & the livelihoods they sustain 👉 Create Pembrokeshire’s very own marine education facility to inspire and share knowledge 👉 Establish a shellfish & seaweed hatchery to help grow a new sea farming sector in Wales Right now, Câr-Y-Môr has to rely on hatcheries far from home, which drives up costs, increases our carbon footprint, and makes supply uncertain. A local hatchery would change that, helping us and others access seed when it’s needed, reducing waste, and creating new opportunities for local people to train and work in regenerative aquaculture. We’re working alongside the RNLI, the PORTHSTINIAN BOAT OWNERS C.I.C., the RSPB, and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to help bring this vision to life while also tackling the long-standing parking challenge, so that visitors can continue to enjoy wildlife boat trips and local businesses can thrive. We’re asking our community to support us as we work towards this big goal, as well as others outlined in our Community Share Offer. This is about our heritage and our future. It’s about protecting what makes this place special and taking bold steps to restore, innovate, and help our coastal communities, wildlife, and seas thrive together. Get involved today! https://lnkd.in/eEw_Vd3V #Pembrokeshire #thousandislandsexpeditions #voyagesofdiscovery #falconboats #Heritage #SustainableFarming #BlueEconomy #RegenerativeAquaculture #Seaweed #Shellfish #SupportLocal

Bringing New Life to St Justinians: A Community Vision We have a special opportunity to breathe life back into old, disused lifeboat stations at St Justinians, creating a marine hub that supports both the local community and the natural world, while giving these listed buildings a new purpose. Our hope is to: 👉 Use the momentum of this project to secure a future for wildlife boat trips & the livelihoods they sustain 👉 Create Pembrokeshire’s very own marine education facility to inspire and share knowledge 👉 Establish a shellfish & seaweed hatchery to help grow a new sea farming sector in Wales Right now, Câr-Y-Môr has to rely on hatcheries far from home, which drives up costs, increases our carbon footprint, and makes supply uncertain. A local hatchery would change that, helping us and others access seed when it’s needed, reducing waste, and creating new opportunities for local people to train and work in regenerative aquaculture. We’re working alongside the RNLI, the PORTHSTINIAN BOAT OWNERS C.I.C., the RSPB, and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to help bring this vision to life while also tackling the long-standing parking challenge, so that visitors can continue to enjoy wildlife boat trips and local businesses can thrive. We’re asking our community to support us as we work towards this big goal, as well as others outlined in our Community Share Offer. This is about our heritage and our future. It’s about protecting what makes this place special and taking bold steps to restore, innovate, and help our coastal communities, wildlife, and seas thrive together. Get involved today! https://lnkd.in/eEw_Vd3V #Pembrokeshire #thousandislandsexpeditions #voyagesofdiscovery #falconboats #Heritage #SustainableFarming #BlueEconomy #RegenerativeAquaculture #Seaweed #Shellfish #SupportLocal

A big thank you to Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales for bringing together government and Pembrokeshire County Council officials, the The Crown Estate, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales, WWF-UK, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, the Development Bank of Wales, Notpla, and others for a vital discussion on the future of regenerative sea farming in Wales. There’s huge potential for Wales to establish a £105M industry, creating over 1,000 jobs, restoring marine and soil biodiversity, and keeping Welsh seafood in the UK. This meeting was an important step toward unlocking barriers that pioneer operators face. We discussed the need for: ✅ A responsible regulatory body and named stakeholders ✅ A clear, consistent licensing process ✅ Funding support to help early-stage farms invest in infrastructure and innovation Câr-Y-Môr is proud to be part of this conversation as a Community Benefit Society looking to build a viable, sustainable community business and share our knowledge openly. Every day, our members work toward a future where sea farming thrives in Wales. Now, it’s time to turn words into action. #RegenerativeFarming #Seaweed #FutureGenerations #WelshSeafood

A big thank you to Derek Walker, Future Generations Commissioner for Wales for bringing together government and Pembrokeshire County Council officials, the The Crown Estate, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru / Natural Resources Wales, WWF-UK, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, the Development Bank of Wales, Notpla, and others for a vital discussion on the future of regenerative sea farming in Wales. There’s huge potential for Wales to establish a £105M industry, creating over 1,000 jobs, restoring marine and soil biodiversity, and keeping Welsh seafood in the UK. This meeting was an important step toward unlocking barriers that pioneer operators face. We discussed the need for: ✅ A responsible regulatory body and named stakeholders ✅ A clear, consistent licensing process ✅ Funding support to help early-stage farms invest in infrastructure and innovation Câr-Y-Môr is proud to be part of this conversation as a Community Benefit Society looking to build a viable, sustainable community business and share our knowledge openly. Every day, our members work toward a future where sea farming thrives in Wales. Now, it’s time to turn words into action. #RegenerativeFarming #Seaweed #FutureGenerations #WelshSeafood

At the end of November, we were really privileged to be invited to run a workshop for the Young Farmer’s Club in #Hayscastle. Our team, with a diverse mix of qualifications and experience, came together to share insights into sea farming and how a 500-strong membership works together to create a viable business for future generations. We kicked things off with the key characteristics of a Community Benefit Society - how we are owned by all of our members, cannot be taken over or that no individual can profit. Jess Watton and Misha, who are dedicated to bringing all of our knowledge to inspire the next generation, held a taster session so that the group could experience the wonderfully different qualities of our seaweeds!   Alma, a qualified regenerative farmer from Denmark, took the spotlight to share her insights into our bio-stimulant: what it is, how it’s made, and why it’s amazing for soil health. A highlight was her demo with cress plants, showing the impressive root growth difference in plants grown with and without the bio-stimulant.   Ferg, a biology graduate born and bred in Rosebush, now as skilled at processing crab and lobster as he is at operating the crane on our Sea Farm Barge - and looking like he just stepped off it, gave an engaging talk about the day-to-day life of a sea farmer. He shared his journey into the role, perfectly tying in how skills from agriculture transfer to aquaculture, and hopefully inspiring career pathways in the next generation of young farmers! The group, aged 14-50, were really enthusiastic, with a mix of farming and non-farming backgrounds. Out of the 17 attendees, around 8 had farming experience, which led to some insightful discussions. We’re thrilled that the Young Farmers Club group plans to share our workshop with 12 other groups and their generous £50 donation was a wonderful gesture. Here’s to many more in 2025. For more info or to come and visit us and our seaweed farm then please get in touch. If you’d like to help us reach more young people in 2025 then please check out Community Share Offer below and consider investing: https://lnkd.in/eEw_Vd3V #seaweedfarming #aquaculture #communityengagement

🌿 2024 was a year of growth, learning, and resilience for Câr Y Môr. As a Community Benefit Society committed to sustainable seafood and farming, we’ve faced our fair share of crests and troughs in the last year 🌊 . 💡 With the launch of our new Share Offer, we’ll be focusing on our milestones and key takeaways going into 2025. Milestones 👉 Empowering Education We reached 2k children and young people, sharing the importance of sustainable seafood and farming, inspiring the next generation to engage with our mission is our number one passion. 👉 Growing Our Team We created 20 new jobs and welcomed 5 key experts to our family, including a chef, marine scientist, and communications director. Their skills are key to the next chapter in the Câr Y Môr story. 👉 Community Support Over 150 new members joined Câr Y Môr in 2024. We also hosted Wales’ 1st Seaweed Festival, drawing 350 attendees and raising awareness of the potential of seaweed farming. 👉 A New Home We’ve had a glimpse into what life will be like in our beautiful new home, the Sied y Môr, which will be Wales’ first seaweed and shellfish processing plant as well as a community learning hub for the area. 👉 Boosting Product Reach Thanks to the generosity of Jonathan V A Williams, we added the THE PEMBROKESHIRE BEACH FOOD COMPANY LIMITED product range and have shipped hundreds of items. Support from top restaurants, such as Tomos Parry's London restaurants, has been a game-changer too. Takeaways 👉 The Weather Always Wins Storms caused significant losses: £10k worth of shellfish stock, £7k of equipment, and 40 tonnes of seaweed seedlings. We’re trialing new practices to mitigate future risks. 👉 Local Market Challenges Only 10% of catch is used locally. Expanding local markets remains a priority to strengthen community ties and reduce our carbon footprint. 👉 Turnover Teaches Us Employee turnover highlighted the importance of transparency. The unique demands of our work aren’t for everyone, so we’re working to set clearer expectations for new hires. 👉 Maintenance is Key Ongoing barge engine repairs and rope issues impacted production. Proactive maintenance and equipment upgrades will be critical moving forward. 🧱 As we journey into 2025, we’re excited for the coming months and to apply these learnings. As always, a heartfelt thanks to our team, community members, and supporters for making this journey possible. 🚀 If you fancy helping us meet these challenges head on, check out our new Crowdfunder below! https://lnkd.in/eEw_Vd3V

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our Câr-y-Môr Crowdfunder! As Wales' first community-owned seaweed and shellfish farm, we’re all about creating positive change right here in Pembrokeshire, restoring nature and empowering communities. At Câr-y-Môr, we’re not just farming seaweed and creating sustainable seafood, we’re a Community Benefit Society, focused on supporting local people, providing jobs, and protecting our marine environment. Every penny we raise is used to revive Welsh coasts and their communities with regenerative sea farming, ensuring a brighter, greener future for everyone. 🌎 Now, you can own a share in this local movement! Your support helps us grow, thrive, and make an even bigger impact. 👉 Check out our share offer here: https://lnkd.in/eEw_Vd3V Together, we can build a more sustainable, viable Pembrokeshire, for the love of the sea! 🌊 #Aquaculture #CarYMor #CommunityOwned #SeaweedRevolution

Here at CyM our team are everything! This year in May, Declan, who used to serve in the army, joined us. He has brought his no-nonsense, all-in attitude to the beating heart of our seaweed and shellfish set up: the kitchen. His experience means he knows how to build a team that’s tight-knit and proud of what they do, so now, the kitchen team isn’t just preparing food, they’re working together to create something they’re genuinely proud of - bringing out the best in the seaweed and shellfish that is caught, farmed and gathered. Declan’s leadership has turned the kitchen into more than just a workspace; it’s where our mission really comes to life. #teameffort #fortheloveofthesea #pembrokeshire

🎄✨ Glad tidings and merry Christmas from all of us here at Câr y Môr! 🎄✨

We may be warming our Christmas cockles by the fire today, but two weeks ago we were battling the elements at our Carn ar Wig site in Ramsey Sound 🌊😲 🌬 Storm Darragh hit us with 80mph NW winds lasting 36 hours. Two days of preparation went into securing all structures, and it took four days of hard work to repair the damage. This photo? Taken lying in a gorse bush, because standing still wasn’t an option! As always, thank you to our incredible team, the beating heart of our community, for their hard work and dedication. Farming shellfish and seaweed off the Pembrokeshire coast isn’t for everyone, but resilience is part of what makes sustainable aquaculture so rewarding.   As we head into 2025, we’ll face more storms both at sea and on land in our efforts to advance the regenerative ocean farming movement. We’re looking to our community to help us rally, innovate and contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come. In January we’ll be announcing our new share offer, so keep a lookout for more info about how you can get involved. The best way to weather the storm? Together. #Seaweed #StormDarragh #Pembrokeshire #Aquaculture #Resilience