Commercial harvesting of native seaweed forest in Bantry Bay allowed

Tourism and local industry tell Claire O’Sullivan there will be huge damage caused by kelp harvesting in Bantry, but the harvesting company says otherwise.

TWO of the country’s most influential food publishers have accused the Government of treating the West Cork coast like an “industrial estate” by allowing the commercial harvesting of 1,860 acres of native seaweed forest in Bantry Bay.

Food writers and authors of Ireland’s 100 Best Restaurants, John and Sally McKenna, have accused the Department of Housing and Planning of thinking “it appropriate that a few people make a lot of money out of seaweed, rather than many people making a little”.