Sea Health Products

Since the 1970s, Sea Health Products has produced a range of organic health food soap and skincare products from wild harvested golden kelp.

Jo Lane took over the business and the title of the ‘Kelp Lady’ in 2015, bringing her own background as a Marine Biologist to take Sea Health to new depths with scientific research.

When the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire came through the South Coast, Jo’s family, land and business were in the firing line. Their property escaped the fire, but their harvest and lab work was lost.

Combined with COVID-19 hitting only months later, Jo’s business was set back at least 12 months, particularly from a research and development perspective.

In March 2020, Jo was one of the first business owners to sign up for Strengthening Business, a service under the AusIndustry Entrepreneurs’ Programme.

Together with her facilitator, they developed a roadmap for the business. Jo has focussed her attention on conducting market research, undertaking a full product review, financial modelling for a commercial kelp farm, and investigation into external funding alternatives.

Despite being adversely affected by the Black Summer bushfires and COVID-19, Sea Health Products is taking the lead in helping transition the Australian kelp industry from beach-cast collection to farmed product.

The next big step is to secure funding for more Sea Kelp research and to develop their ocean-based kelp farm.

With the value of the Australian seaweed industry predicted to reach $100m a year by 2025, Sea Health Products is in a strong position for the future.