SAMS’s scientist Dr Michael Burrows, the report’s main author, told The Herald: “I am an ecologist and wanted to make a robust estimate of the inter-tidal seaweed out there. We didn’t focus on the economic possibilities. We wanted to come up with good estimate of what a sustainable harvest might be. “The main findings were that although the total amount of the plants came to 170,000 tonnes, once you take into account accessibility issues and the need to allow the weed to regenerate, it comes down to 15,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes for a sustainable annual harvest. That is two to three times the present harvest, but the idea that there is a vast resource that would allow an sizeable industry to be established, is not supported by this research. But there is potential for expansion.” He said that the species that was being surveyed, Ascophyllum nodosum, was the main exploitable tidal species. “Below low water people have extracted kelp and there is a lot more kelp. However, there is potential for a serious impact on the coastal biodiversity if kelp was extracted on commercial scale,” he said. He added that apart from the protection the kelp afforded the coastline, areas of kelp could be nursery areas for young fish such as cod.
Group items tagged
Isle of Barra - 0 views
Machair Life - 0 views
Main Page - Hebripedia - 1 views
Napier Commission in the Outer Hebrides - 0 views
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Transcript of the Napier Commission Report from the 1880s, pertaining to the Outer Hebrides, broken down by submission and by location.
Ordnance Survey Maps Six-inch 1st edition, Scotland, 1843-1882 - National Library of Sc... - 0 views
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2 paragraphs on 'Practical methods of naming in the Outer Hebrides' are particularly relevant, but all 5 parts of the essay are well worth reading. The online maps are easily accessed from here, too.
Comunn Eachdraidh Bharraidh - 0 views
Whisky Galore Festival - 0 views
The Papar Project : introduction - 0 views
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Comprehensive descriptions of 10 locations in the isles.
Welcome - Scotland's Islands - 0 views
Long Island PLComb through time | Administrative history of Scottish Poor Law Combinati... - 0 views
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Long Island Poor Law Combination
Seaweed harvest boost for jobs in Hebrides - Herald Scotland | News | Home News - 0 views
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He said the SAMS report made clear that it would not be possible to have a huge jump in harvesting rates without paying an environmental price.
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"The main findings were that although the total amount of the plants came to 170,000 tonnes, once you take into account accessibility issues and the need to allow the weed to regenerate, it comes down to 15,000 tonnes to 20,000 tonnes for a sustainable annual harvest. That is two to three times the present harvest, but the idea that there is a vast resource that would allow an sizeable industry to be established, is not supported by this research. But there is potential for expansion." He said that the species that was being surveyed, Ascophyllum nodosum, was the main exploitable tidal species. "Below low water people have extracted kelp and there is a lot more kelp. However, there is potential for a serious impact on the coastal biodiversity if kelp was extracted on commercial scale," he said... He said the SAMS report made clear that it would not be possible to have a huge jump in harvesting rates without paying an environmental price.
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