A leading Connemara seaweed rights activist has called on the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) to reconsider its plan to ensure all seaweed harvesters register for such activity by 2028.
John Bhaba Jeaic O Conghaíle of Choiste Cearta Feamainne agus Cladaigh Chonamara was commenting on the serious concerns among individual harvesters on RTÉ Radio 1 Countrywide.
Under the Marine Area Planning Act 2021, a deadline of July 2028 has been set by which anyone collecting or harvesting seaweed on the Irish coast must be registered and licensed.
Up to 300 people who attended a recent public meeting in Rosmuc heard that seaweed companies like former semi State company Arramara, now owned by Canadian multinational Acadian, have applied to MARA for licenses in five Connemara bays.
Arramara says it has spent two years ensuring its application does not encroach on areas of the shore with existing folio or appurtenant rights.
However, even individual harvesters with folio rights – who are paid up to 110 euro a tonne by Arramara for supplying Ascophyllum nodosum [knotted wrack], largely used in animal feed, and 200 euro a tone for supplying Fucus vesiculosus [bladder wrack] - are worried.
They recall how Arramara had previously unsuccessfully sought licenses on the shoreline from Mayo down to Clare back in 2014 before the issue was referred to the Attorney-General.
Historic Warning – John Bhaba Jeaic Ó Conghaíle holds an 18th-century anti-poaching notice, highlighting long-standing tensions over coastal resource rights in Connemara
Arramara’s European director Jim Keogh explained on Countrywide that the company is planning ahead to ensure supply, and said that the application for licenses, if successful, will protect individual harvesters who supply it.
Part-time harvester Sean Griffin told the programme he had no problem registering, but pointed out there would be considerable costs for individuals in making the application. Even those with folio rights must register.
O Conghaíle said that individual harvesters would not go to the trouble to register, especially if there are tax implications, and the factories requiring seaweed would suffer in the long term.
As it is, “no one is going into cutting seaweed anymore”, Ó Conghaíle said, as it was not appealing to young people.
“There were no colleges when we were growing up…the shore was our university,” Ó Conghaíle explained.
“It was a very handy job if you didn’t have money to pay tax or insurance on the car,”Ó Conghaíle said.
Arramara had been a very good buyer, he said, but no one wanted it securing licenses that might give it control of certain areas.
He believed that “either Arramara or the Government [as in MARA]” has to “pull back and let people look after seaweed as they did for generations”.
MARA has said registration is a requirement under Schedule 7 of the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021, with a transitional period to July 2028.
MARA has compiled a set of frequently asked questions on the issue which can be found on the FAQ page of its website.
Listen to RTÉ Radio 1 Countrywide’s report here
