Leitrim coastal community fears loss of traditional seaweed rights

Concerns have been growing among the coastal community in North Leitrim, as well as coastal communities around the country, regarding the safeguarding of their traditional seaweed rights.

At March’s meeting of Manorhamilton Municipal District, Cllr Justin Warnock asked that the Council write to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) to highlight growing concern among coastal communities and traditional seaweed rights holders about the environmental impact and legality of issuing a seaweed harvesting licence to the Canadian-owned firm Arramara Teoranta.

Arramarra Teoranta, based in Galway, is a seaweed company that was bought by Canadian multinational Acadian Seaplants for an undisclosed sum in 2014.

The company has submitted a planning application seeking to harvest seaweed from multiple bays in Galway, along with a separate application covering intertidal areas.

Cllr Warnock noted that there are “a few hundred” people with traditional seaweed rights in Leitrim, with the seaweed used for growing vegetables and as fertiliser. He said that Ireland as a country is “selling off everything,” having “giving away” fish when joining the European Union, and warned that people do not realise the value of seaweed. He added that international harvesters entering the sector could cause damage.

READ NEXT: Court hears Leitrim woman with 106 convictions stole €300 worth of make-up

“No one realises that the seaweed and the kelp slows down coastal erosion and are a huge habitat for fish fauna,” said Cllr Warnock. “We have to try and hold onto something that’s ours. We have to be mindful that we don’t give the rights away,” he added.

He said Ireland needs to do more to strengthen domestic industry rather than relying so heavily on exports, adding that if “we can’t get fertiliser in, maybe we should be doing more ourselves to improve our own country.”

America and Israel’s war in Iran is affecting nitrogen based fertilisers coming into the country as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, affecting farmers alongside the rising costs of fertiliser.

Cllr Warnock’s motion received support from other councillors, agreeing that traditional seaweed rights in the area need to be safeguarded.

Cllr James Gilmartin added that the name of the company – Arramarra Teoranta, Gaeilge for ‘sea products limited’ – is misleading, as people may still assume it is an Irish company rather than Canadian owned. “It’s really important we protect our coastline,” he added.

READ NEXT: Trail linking North Leitrim village with popular amenity moves forward

Cllr Warnock also proposed a motion asking the Roads department to survey a section of the R281 at Gortnasillagh, Kinlough, citing it as a “major concern” for road users, particularly bus, truck and tractor drivers.

It was confirmed that the location will be assessed for short-term repair measures and could be considered by members for a restoration grant in the future.