Dr. Maeve Edwards:

I will finish off with the wild resource. From what we know, we know very little about the seaweed resource. In terms of the estimation of the biomass, it can be wildly variable depending on whom one speaks to and depending on what method is used to quantify it. As a research institute, we recommend a robust system of monitoring to see what we have and to understand it a little more. I have noticed from speaking to harvesters that there is a need and a desire for education. In the west there are many types of harvester. There is the person who does it as a pastime, there are more professional cutters who cut a good deal, and there are those who are very experienced and some who are very inexperienced. Certainly within all of that there is a concern that the inexperience is damaging the resource. By and large, it has been well looked after. I believe further education would be beneficial.