John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 400: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her Department will engage with a company (details supplied) in County Cork to assist in the process of obtaining a licence to harvest seaweed; and if she will expedite a pro-active approach from her Department. [13844/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Activities on the foreshore such as harvesting of seaweed require a foreshore licence from my Department. The individual referred to was issued with an application form for such a licence initially by post and subsequently by e-mail when the individual informed my Department that he had not received the form posted to him.

On receipt of the completed application, my Department will be in a position to assess the proposal in conjunction with our technical and scientific advisors. My Department will be glad to meet the applicant to discuss the proposal at that stage if necessary.

I should point out however that, to date, while my Department has licensed the harvesting of seaweed by hand, the mechanical harvesting of seaweed has not been licensed. This is due to ongoing concerns regarding the potentially serious adverse impact of such activity on marine species and the general coastal environment.