Rathlin to supply kelp to Japan after Fukushima

A small island off the north coast of Ireland has emerged as an unlikely potential supplier of edible seaweed to Japan — a country whose own stocks have been hit by the Fukushima nuclear disaster.

A mother and son team from Rathlin are trying to exploit the gap in the market caused by the contamination of the waters around the ruptured reactor.

Kate Burns and her son Benji McFaul are growing thousands of tonnes of kelp on ropes that extend out from the shoreline into the sea.

They have found conditions are optimum for growing the fine species used in traditional Japanese miso soup and the thicker variety used in noodle recipes.

“Due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, a lot of the seaweed production in that part of the world has been closed down,” said Ms Burns.

“Combine that with the growth of the Asian population who eat seaweed, plus the growth in the European population who now are interested in seaweed, and sushi is a big growth market. So we will be pursuing the European and Asian markets,” Kate said.

“The waters around the British Isles are particularly suitable because of the Gulf Stream as it means our temperatures are near optimum year round. But especially round Rathlin. Rathlin is a very strong tidal place and kelp like strong tides. In Rathlin, the tides are ideal, between one and two knots,” she said.