MBL’s operation proposes to mechanically harvest up to 30,000 tonnes of kelp a year over a 20km2 area, with the use of specially built or re-purposed vessels. Kelp forests are among the most biologically diverse and valuable marine habitats on the planet, and are recognised as a Priority Marine Feature habitat within Scotland’s seas. The Scottish Government have an obligation to ensure that “Development and use of the marine environment must not result in significant impact on the national status of Priority Marine Features”, under the National Marine Plan, and the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 requires that decision makers should act in the way best calculated to further the achievement of sustainable development and use, including the protection and, where appropriate, enhancement of the health of the Scottish marine area. We strongly feel that MBL’s proposals to mechanically harvest wild kelp on the West Coast of Scotland will result in a significant negative impact to this habitat, and to the wider ecosystems of the West Coast.
Helped the kelp!
You can sign the online petition here.
Mechanical dredging for kelp in the news
- Gazzette and Herald (16/9/2018) MSPs urged to ban mechanical dredging for kelp
- The Guardian (24/8/2018) Kelp dredging proposal criticised by Scottish conservationists
More information:
