State move on foreshore licences
PEOPLE who traditionally cut and sell seaweed along the sea shore are worried that the practice could be under threat from the licensing regime.
A number of smaller local companies that work in the seaweed industry are also very concerned that they will be squeezed out of the business.
Seaweed harvesting along the west coast of Ireland is a custom that stretches back for centuries.
But the crop is now seen as a valuable resource as an ingredient in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, fertilisers, organic food, and animal health supplements.
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has recently indicated that people who cut seaweed will require licences.
Seaweed cutters, who have noticed that a number of companies have applied to the Department for licences, fear their livelihoods will be affected.
Minister of state Jan O’Sullivan said living seaweed acts as an important habitat for marine and coastal species as well as having economic potential.
“In this context, the need to ensure sustainable exploitation of this valuable resource through the regulation of seaweed harvesting under the Foreshore Act 1933 is vital.
“This is the focus of my Department’s efforts,” she said.
The fears of the seaweed cutters were recently raised in the Dáil and Senate and were discussed at a number of well-attended public meetings in the west.
It followed the takeover by Acadian Seaplants, a Canadian company, of the seaweed processing factory, Arramara, which was 100% owned by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Údarás stressed that the acquisition would safeguard Arramara’s future, provide significant investment and facilitate the further development of the sector.
It would also ensure a continued demand, it said, for seaweed supply from local harvesters and provide additional employment.
Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh said he wished the new company well and stressed there was no issue with the purchase whatsoever. But there was an issue with the licensing regime.
“The legislation states that the State owns the seaweed on our shores and, technically, the people who want to cut seaweed require a licence,” said Mr Ó Clochartaigh.
“It appears to us that the law has not been implemented to the letter until recently.
“However, there is a tradition, certainly in places like Connemara where I am from, for people to have a stripe or space on the shore to cut seaweed and sell it to the factory.”
Mr Ó Clochartaigh said it had been noted that a number of private companies had applied for a licence to gain the right to harvest seaweed along the foreshore from Kerry to Donegal.
“We also know of a licence application that covers the area from Belmullet to Clare,” he said.
“I ask that none of the licences be granted until there is full public consultation with the seaweed cutters and people involved in the local communities,” he said.
Ms O’Sullivan said public participation is a key element of the decision-making process under the Foreshore Act 1933.
She said foreshore licence applications are subject to a public consultation process.
Ms O’Sullivan said a number of licence applications for seaweed harvesting have been received.
“These applications vary considerably. They are made by both individual and commercial harvesters,” she said.
“Some have applied for a licence to harvest specific types of seaweed in a single or a couple of adjoining bays while other applications extend over a large area of coastline.
“The species and amounts of seaweed proposed to be harvested are also varied, ranging from very small quantities of Carrageen Moss to significant volumes of ascophyllum nodosum.
“End use applications range from artisan food products to animal health products to high grade fertiliser.”
She urged people to use the opportunity afforded by the public consultation process to make their views known on the applications in question.
All applications will be assessed in the context of the relevant regulatory framework, including any obligations that may arise under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.
Minister of state Kathleen Lynch, replying to a question from Mr Ó Clochartaigh, said harvesting large quantities, which might damage the crop in a particular area, or have adverse effects on the marine environment, is something that Ireland needs to avoid.
