'We need to take back control,' to protect Mayo seaweed harvesting

Councillors in Mayo County Council have backed a motion calling for the protection of traditional seaweed harvesting along the county’s coastline amid concerns about potential licences for large-scale corporations.

The motion, proposed by Cllr Marie‑Therese Duffy at the council’s monthly meeting yesterday (Monday, March 9), called on the Marine Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) to refuse all pending and future applications from large corporations seeking licences to harvest seaweed along the Mayo coast.

Cllr Duffy told the meeting that councillors had received numerous emails from concerned residents in recent weeks about the issue.

“As councillors, our emails have been flooded with concerns about this for the past month,” she said. “Seaweed harvesting has been a local family tradition in many communities over several generations. We need to protect this local tradition.”

She warned that allowing large companies to harvest seaweed along the coastline could set a precedent that would be difficult to reverse.

READ MORE: 'This has to be halted in its tracks' - West Mayo Cllrs oppose application

Supporting the motion, Cllr Harry Barrett said traditional harvesting had been carried out for generations by local families and small-scale operators.

“For generations my own family harvested seaweed by hand in the local community,” he said. “People are worried that a large company could be granted exclusive rights along our coast, leaving local harvesters locked out of a resource they have always depended on.”

Cllr Barrett proposed that the council also write to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, calling for safeguards to ensure traditional harvesters can continue their work and that coastal communities are properly consulted before any licences are granted.

Several councillors voiced their support during the discussion. Cllr John O’Malley said local people who currently harvest seaweed for additional income should not be displaced by outside operators.

“We don’t want the government granting access to somebody from outside the area to come in and cut seaweed,” he said. “The people who are cutting it now should be allowed to continue as their families have done for years.”

Cllr Peter Flynn also backed the motion but noted that MARA operates as an independent regulatory authority.

READ MORE: Wave of seaweed licence applications could mark turning point for Mayo’s coast

Meanwhile, Cllr Gerry Murray said the issue highlighted wider concerns about democratic accountability, arguing that ministers should retain responsibility for key decisions affecting local communities.

“We have to take back control. The minister has to take back control and these decisions should be made by a minister,” he said. “People are losing faith in the democratic process because there is no democratic accountability, no democratic responsibility and no democratic order,” he said.

He added that traditional seaweed harvesting rights should be protected, arguing that allowing large companies to take control of coastal resources would be unacceptable.

Other councillors including Gerry Coyle, Chris Maxwell and Jarlath Munnelly expressed concern about protecting coastal livelihoods and ensuring local communities benefit from natural resources along the Mayo coastline.

Councillors agreed that the local authority should formally communicate its position to MARA and the relevant minister, highlighting the importance of safeguarding traditional harvesting practices while ensuring coastal communities are consulted on any future licensing decisions.