Seaweed Harvesting

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023

Tuesday, 17 October 2023

Questions (299)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

299. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether the cutting of seaweed at a location (details supplied) requires a licence. [44906/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (Deputy Kieran O'Donnell)

Any individual or a company is required to apply for a licence for the harvesting of wild seaweed unless they hold traditional rights to harvest wild seaweed.

These traditional rights to harvest wild seaweed may be related to property rights, known as appurtenant rights or built up through harvesting from the same area over a period of time known as a profit-a-prendre rights.

Therefore, where these rights apply, a licence is not required by the holder of that right in order to harvest seaweed, nor can any other entity be licensed to harvest seaweed in an area where existing formal or informal rights to harvest seaweed already exist. The process of registering seaweed harvesting rights on a property folio is matter for the Property Registration Authority of Ireland.

However, I can confirm that a Licence under the Foreshore Act, 1933 for the harvesting of wild seaweed at this location has not be applied for or granted since April 2023.

The new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, or MARA, which was established on 17 July, 2023 as an independent agency under the Maritime Area Planning Acts, is responsible for regulating all activity and ensuring compliance with the relevant statutory requirements in Ireland’s Maritime Area.

Anyone proposing to undertake any activity in the Maritime Area, from 17 July 2023, must now apply to MARA for a consent, if required, and MARA have the authority to investigate any alleged unauthorised activity or development works in the Irish Maritime Area.

I have been informed that MARA is aware of a complaint concerning the harvesting of wild seaweed at the location concerned and they will be investigating the matter accordingly.  Further queries in relation to such enforcement matters should therefore be directed to [e-mail].