The Minch Project

Littoral Seaweed Resource Management
A Report Prepared for the Minch Project
By Environment & Resource Technology Ltd

Prepared for the Web by Gavin Earons, IT Unit, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

CONTENTS

CONTENTS 1

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2

INTRODUCTION 2

LITTORAL SURVEY 3

SUSTAINABILITY STUDY 3

ECONOMIC APPRAISAL 4

CONCLUSIONS 5

1 INTRODUCTION 6

2 LITTORAL SURVEY 6

2.1 INTRODUCTION 6

2.2 METHODS 6

2.2.1 Ascophyllum Surveys 6

2.2.2 Red Seaweed Survey Methods 7

2.3 RESULTS 7

2.3.1 Biomass Estimates 7

2.4 DISCUSSION 9

2.4.1 Harvesting Histories 9

2.4.2 Comparison of Ascophyllum Results with Historical Surveys 9

2.4.3 Red Seaweed Data 9

3 SUSTAINABILITY STUDY 9

3.1 INTRODUCTION 9

3.2 REVIEW OF SEAWEED HARVESTING PRACTICES AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 10

3.2.1 Ascophyllum nodosum Harvesting 10

3.2.2 Chondrus crispus and Mastocarpus stellatus Harvesting 12

3.2.3 Palmaria palmata and Porphyra spp Harvesting 14

3.3 EFFECTS OF SEAWEED HARVESTING 14

3.3.1 Impact on the Target Species 14

3.3.2 Direct Impacts on Other Fauna and Flora 15

3.3.3 Indirect Effects on the Wider Ecosystem 16

3.4 MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE WESTERN ISLES 16

3.4.1 Introduction 16

3.4.2 Demonstration Project 16

3.4.3 Management Guidelines for Ascophyllum Harvesting 17

3.4.4 Management Guidelines for Chondrus crispus and Mastocarpus stellatus Harvesting 18

4 ECONOMIC APPRAISAL 18

4.1 INTRODUCTION 18

4.2 SEAWEED PRODUCTION IN THE WESTERN ISLES 18

4.2.1 Historical 18

4.2.2 Current 19

4.2.3 Economic Value 20

4.2.4 Comparison with Production Elsewhere 21

4.3 MARKETS FOR SEAWEEDS AND ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS 22

4.3.1 Alginates and Other Phycocolloids 23

4.3.2 Fertilisers 27

4.3.3 Animal Nutrition 29

4.3.4 Specialist Food Products 29

4.3.5 Cosmetics 31

4.4 Market Opportunities for the Western Isles 32

4.4.1 SWOT Analysis 32

4.4.2 Discussion 34

4.4.3 Recommendations 35

5 CONCLUSIONS 36

Ascophyllum nodosum, 36

Red Algal Species 37

8. LIST OF CONTENTS OF FULL REPORT 37