Gathering seaweed for private use (eg for the garden)

[geordief]

Are there any restrictions on this practice?

[echat11]

Hi GEORDIEF

Welcome to LB

Some info here:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts...aweed-products

[geordief]

Hi GEORDIEF

Welcome to LB

Some info here:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/soil-composts...aweed-products

Thanks for the welcome.Actually I had seen the quote you must be referring to in that link -not knowing where it came from.

I deduce from that that one can help oneself to seaweed from the shore provided there is no objection from a landowner or if it is not a protected area.

I am not sure what damage is caused by its use as the amount that is available at the high tide mark is continuously replenished


Even so there are huge populations of "indigenous " insects who very quickly take up residence under the fast rotting heaps and I sometimes wonder if they might need protection if there was a wholesale gathering of all the seaweed by large numbers of seaweed hungry gardeners.

Over here in Ireland you have to have a license to gather seaweed for commercial purposes but not ,as far as I know for personal use.

[des8]

Here in Wales, Natural Resources Wales publishes advice: https://cdn.naturalresources.wales/m...nowenglish.pdf

In England Natural England publishes this advice: https://www.westgateonsea.gov.uk/sha...e%2D2014%2Epdf

In the Republic of Ireland this site is interesting:https://www.seaweed.ie/irish_seaweed_contacts/

In Northern Ireland it seems you need government consent https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/4d...he%20foreshore.

[geordief]

Here in Wales, Natural Resources Wales publishes advice: https://cdn.naturalresources.wales/m...nowenglish.pdf

In England Natural England publishes this advice: https://www.westgateonsea.gov.uk/sha...e%2D2014%2Epdf

In the Republic of Ireland this site is interesting:https://www.seaweed.ie/irish_seaweed_contacts/

In Northern Ireland it seems you need government consent https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/4d...he%20foreshore.

Thanks and much more detailed than I expected.

I am very confident that that last link (along with the one previous to it) applies not to Northern Ireland but the Republic.

That is clear from the url (www
gov.ie)

All .ie websites are based in the Republic of Ireland and that particular one is a state owned one-I see the equivalent UK site is www.gov.uk

[des8]

oops

This is more relevant to Ulster: :
https://www.seaweed.ie/irish_seaweed...nstatement.pdf

"4. Wrack Rights and the Ownership of the Shore

In Northern Ireland, both the seabed (to the 12 nautical mile territorial limit) and the foreshore (the area between mean high and mean low water) mainly belongs to the Crown. Coastal land above the high-water mark is usually in private ownership.

As an extension of the public right to fish in and gather items from the sea, members of the public can take fresh seaweed which is floating in the sea. Floating seaweed on the foreshore (occurring either as fresh vegetation or drift) can be harvested as part of this public right when the tide is in. However, seaweed remaining as fresh vegetation or drift when the tide is out cannot be taken, unless some other legal basis for taking seaweed is established. Likewise, seaweed cast above the high water-mark belongs to the owner of the land. There is no public right to take seaweed in these circumstances and another legal basis for claiming a right to take seaweed must be established.

A private individual or individuals who have been gathering seaweed from the shore for a period of time may be able to assert a legal right to do so (sometimes referred to as a ‘wrack right’). An informal right of this nature may be recognised where the person or persons concerned have been taking seaweed from a particular part of the shore for more than 20 years. However, such rights are not unrestricted. While taking small quantities of seaweed for personal use is allowed, taking large quantities which might damage the seaweed ‘crop’ in a particular area or have an adverse effect on the local marine environment is not permissible under nature conservation laws."

[echat11]

Seaweed tastes so nice, wouldn't you rather eat (Crispy Seaweed) it then use it in the garden? Highly nutritious with vits. and mins.

[des8]

aah ... laverbread, eggs & bacon for traditional Welsh breakfast

[geordief]

echat11
No ,I have some given as a gift that I am going to put in the compost heap.

Kale crisps work well ,as do any cabbage like plants(or even just any old leftover veg that you give a little oil and drying heat to)

When I add seaweed to the compost heap my spinach grows as big and juicy as ..well very big and juicy spinach or swiss chard.

It is a fair trade

des8
I have never tried laverbread.
Maybe that would be nice.

Not all seaweed is used for cooking and I gather mainly kelp which I don't think is used that way.

[des8]

Kelp is edible ... just google Kelp recipes