Public meeting planned in Mayo town over proposed seaweed harvesting in Clew Bay

A public meeting has been scheduled for Monday, 9 March 2026, in Newport, Co. Mayo to discuss a proposed commercial seaweed harvesting project in Clew Bay.

The meeting, organised by Paul Lawless, will take place at 8:00pm in Brannen’s Pub and aims to give local residents an opportunity to learn more about the proposal and voice their concerns.

The application at the centre of the discussion was submitted by BioAtlantis Ltd to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA). The company is seeking a Maritime Usage Licence (application number MUL240043) to harvest the brown seaweed species Ascophyllum nodosum commercially within the bay.

According to information circulated ahead of the meeting, the proposal could allow for the harvesting of up to 12,900 tonnes of seaweed per year across an application area covering more than 1,600 hectares. The mapped harvesting plots are spread throughout areas of Clew Bay.

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Lawless said the meeting is intended to ensure that local communities understand the proposal and have a forum to discuss its potential impacts.

“There is a need for a public forum to discuss this application for seaweed harvesting in Clew Bay. It is essential that local voices are heard,” he said. “This meeting will provide an open space to share information, address concerns, and help inform future decisions affecting our bay.”

The issue is particularly relevant to coastal landowners, many of whom hold indigenous rights to harvest seaweed along the shoreline. Organisers say it is important that these landowners understand how the licensing process may interact with those rights.

Clew Bay is widely regarded as an ecologically sensitive marine environment. The area contains multiple Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA), as well as important fish nursery habitats and shellfish waters. The bay also supports traditional seaweed harvesting practices and plays a significant role in local tourism and coastal protection.

The public consultation period for the application involving statutory bodies closed on 27 February 2026. A broader public submission period is expected to follow.

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Organisers are encouraging residents from Clew Bay, Newport, and Achill Island to attend the meeting, particularly those who may be affected by potential changes to seaweed harvesting activity or rights in the bay.

The meeting will provide an opportunity for community members to ask questions, share information and discuss the implications of the proposal before the regulatory process moves forward.