Seaweed Harvesting
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-18
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Timmy Dooley (FF), Clare

I thank Senator Kyne. I note his interest in this matter, which he has raised with me on a number of occasions. I am pleased to get an opportunity to discuss it in the House.
Ireland's first non-statutory marine planning policy statement, MPPS, for all marine planning aspects was published in November 2019, pending the introduction of the national marine planning framework and the enactment of the Marine Area Planning Act 2021. In 2019, the MPPS outlined existing components of the marine planning system and its future vision. It set out the high-level priorities for the enactment of the marine planning system in Ireland. Ireland's national marine planning framework, NMPF, was subsequently adopted in May 2021. The NMPF brings together all marine-based human activities for the first time, outlining the Government's vision, objectives and marine planning policy for each marine activity. All public bodies and consenting authorities are required to have regard to the NMPF in the exercise of their statutory functions. This is intended to ensure consistent, precautionary and evidence-based decision-making across all Departments and agencies.
The three objectives of the NMPF in relation to seaweed harvesting are as follows: support the sustainable harvesting of seaweed, having regard to the important economic and social contribution it makes to coastal communities; develop and maintain a fit-for-purpose regulatory framework that supports sustainable harvesting, ensures that key seaweed species which support multiple vital ecosystems are safeguarded and respects existing formal and informal rights to harvest; and support ongoing research to build on available data to support sustainable seaweed harvesting. The enactment of the Marine Area Planning Act in 2021 subsequently provided a statutory framework for marine planning policy statements and, following a consultation on our draft statutory MPPS in 2025, the policy statement is being finalised and is expected to be brought before Government in April of this year.
With regard to seaweed harvesting specifically, the draft MPPS contains a commitment that the marine planning system will "support the development of a regulatory framework for seaweed harvesting, formulating policies which enhance and safeguard key seaweed species and having regard to the important economic and social contribution seaweed makes to coastal communities." In this context, the development of a seaweed policy led by the most appropriate Government Department would require significant interdepartmental engagement and stakeholder consultation, given the range of social, economic and environmental factors that would need to be considered.
I am very aware of the complexities involved in relation to traditional seaweed harvesting, having recently met representatives of that industry - in fairness, the Senator was present at one of those meetings - and engaging with them. The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority has also engaged with representatives of the industry and is engaging with the Department on the existing regulatory framework. In that context, it is important to note that since the establishment of MARA, applicants may apply to the regulator for a licence to harvest seaweed in accordance with Schedule 7 of the Marine Area Planning Act 2021, which provides for maritime usage, and may be undertaken pursuant to the granting of a licence. Before granting a licence, MARA shall have regard to any environmental impacts arising and any Government policies that may affect or relate to functions of MARA.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-18