Plans for Wales' first commercial ocean farm, which could produce up to 15 tonnes of seaweed and shellfish a year are in the pipeline for a site off the St Davids Peninsula.

Câr-Y-Môr (For the Love of the Sea) community benefit society has operated two trial 3D ocean farms in Ramsey Sound, the first of their kind in Wales, for the past year.

The farms consist of 300m of seaweed lines growing four species of seaweed, 90,000 juvenile native oysters as well as scallops and mussels.

The society now plans to create a three-hectare farm 500 meters north of the Carn ar Wig trial site.

Last week Câr-Y-Môr gained approval for a container processing facility in St Davids, with plans to start developing the St David’s Seafood House at new units scheduled to be built next year.

The farms will then work alongside St David’s Seafood House, retailing and wholesaling local seafood. There will also be a small production facility in the city for medicinal, cosmetic and related products It is hoped the facilities in St Davids will teach and inspire others to replicate this regenerative ocean farming method across Wales, the UK and eventually further afield.

The society has recently appointed Bert Lewis as Câr-Y-Môr manager and Dan Lewis as stakeholder engagement manager, funded by WWF.

The pioneer share offer is still open to potential investors who can contact volunteer director, Alex Minford, for information.

3D ocean farming is seen as one of the answers to food shortages and climate change as well as generating local jobs, creating biodiversity and improving the nation's diet.

"This polyculture vertical farming system grows a mix of seaweeds and shellfish that require zero inputs - making it the most sustainable form of food production on the planet," said Câr-Y-Môr's Owen Haines.

The farms sit below the surface of the sea and produce high yields with a small footprint. No fertilizer, fresh water, feed or land is required.

They help to restore ocean ecosystems and their crops also help capture and store carbon dioxide, slowing down climate change.

The seaweed crop can be used as food, fertilizer, animal fee, in bio plastics and more.

“The trials have proved farm concept, demonstrating both the potential economics and sustainability of ocean rope grown seaweed and shellfish sites and furthermore taught all the CârY-Môr volunteers how to manage such an ocean farm in these marine locations,” said a statement by the society.

It is now applying to Natural Resources Wales for a 20-year marine licence.

Members of the public have until November 11 to make any representations on the application by emailing marinelicensing@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk .