The European macroalgae industry is based on the harvesting of natural resources of macroalgae. Worldwide macroalgae production (includes brown, red and green seaweeds) increases 5.7 % every year, in 2008 nearly 14 mill tons of macroalgae was produced from capture and aquaculture. In Europe the production has been stable since 1960, but has decreased in the last 10 years.

The further expansion of the industry depends on a stable access to raw material, development of valuable products and the transfer of expertise between developed and less developed regions