Huge seaweed farm in North Cornwall area of natural beauty opposed by locals

A controversial seaweed farm proposed for north Cornwall has been opposed by locals.

The plans for Port Quin Bay, if approved, will be equivalent in size to 140 football pitches.

Biome Algae (in partnership with Camel Fish) have applied for two 50 hectare farms to be placed 500m from the bay. Similar proposed plans for Gerrans Bay were withdrawn following opposition from locals last year.

Rory Colborne, from Port Quin, said:

"The area is frequented by lots of sea mammals. We've had whales and dolphins all visiting the area which all swim and feed where they're proposing to farm.

"Natural spaces left untouched"

"I think it's really important there are natural spaces within Cornwall that are left untouched. There have been huge amounts of development in other areas which have their own benefits and negatives. But it's important we have areas like this, an amazing viewing gallery for those animals, as an area where visitors can come to explore and see nature."

Port Quin, in Port Issac, is in an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) and lies just outside the Marine Conservation Zone.

Sky Yolland, from Port Quin, told us:

"We are looking at it for locals and saying what are we actually going to get for all the people in the area. Is this going to be good for them? Will there be jobs in it? We just want answers. We need the data.

"At first I thought brilliant it's going to be carbon capture but then we looked into it and it doesn't seem like that's going to be the case at the moment. It seems like it's going to be monetisation of a beautiful bay."

Biome Algae, in partnership with Camel Fish Limited, say both applications are for "sustainable, regenerative seaweed farms" which will enhance "marine biodiversity".

In a joint statement from Biome and Camel Fish, they said:

• Both companies pre-engaged a wide range of stakeholders, securing support in the region before submitting applications to the MMO.

• Following MMO protocol and at MMO’s request, once the applications were accepted as complete, both companies placed adverts in papers and magazines as directed by the MMO. A public notice was placed in a prominent place. Public consultation was then open for 28 days. During that time the public are able to read the applications and can make representations or ask questions.

• No representations were received and therefore we understood there were no issues.

• This is evident on the MMO portal for both applications.

• Following interest from the local community after the first public consultation closed (two months later) – we are opening up to an additional 28-day period for you to read the proposals and provide representation, commencing today on 15th February 2024.

• Notices have been placed within the local vicinity, as per the instructions of MMO.

• Notices follow a very strict template from the MMO as to how they are presented.

• Neither applicant is involved in the Port Isaac farm that was licensed.

Additional clarification:

1. Biome is run by Dr Angela Mead, who is a marine biologist with over 28 years-experience in coastal ecosystems and climate change and 6 years-experience in seaweed farming.

2. As a local company, Camelfish have worked in the Bay for 50 years and know the Bay very well.

3. Both companies are SME’s, have local connections and local employees.

The farms:

4. The farm infrastructure occupies 10% of the total proposed farm space at full capacity. The rest of the site remains open sea which is navigated by marine mammals and marine life (observed and monitored). We do not erect structures that block marine life access. In fact it will provide shelter and food. We are part of several research programs documenting these positive effects.

5. The infrastructure is proven to operate securely in high energy sea conditions. We do not lose seaweed from the lines (observed and monitored).

6. We only grow local seaweeds.

7. The only visible structures are grey buoys which will lay horizontally and are mostly submerged. Visibility of the buoys decreases significantly with distance.

8. We recognise the farm occupies the seascape at distance. At the nearest corner, buoys will be placed from 500 m from the shore and outwards to 1.4 km.

9. There will be a channel between the farms and moules to be able to access anchorage and shelter.

10. There will be a total of 4 Navigational Safety lights – which are there for safety purposes. Lights are only operational at night.

11. Research and evidence show that our seaweed farms do enhance marine biodiversity, protect and restore habitats, have low carbon potential (ongoing research), add to biodiversity net gain and offer ecosystem services.

12. We will mainly use the seaweed harvested to create materials to replace oil-based plastics and textiles, which can naturally dissolve and compost, without leaving plastic waste in landfill or the marine environment – harming sea-life.

13. Processing the seaweed will be conducted in the locality of the sea-farms.

14. Demonstratable community and economic benefits of the farms include; employment, training, career and research opportunities within a sustainable venture, supporting local harbours and local businesses (services/supply).

A consultation period ends on Wednesday 14 March.

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