types of seaweed in scotland

Small, red or brown, fern-shaped seaweed of sheltered rocky coves. The marine pressure list has been adapted for use in Scotland via work on the Feature Activity Sensitivity Tool (FeAST). On sheltered shores there are often dense stands, in potentially harvestable amounts, of intertidal wracks. Mixed kelps on a shallower wave exposed reef NatureScot. * marine licences have been issued to remove kelp from around power station water intakes. Today seaweed continues to be used in a variety of products. France and Spain for sea vegetables; France and Portugal in the bioactives sector), however some Scottish products have already penetrated global markets and the Scottish sector could potentially benefit from promotion of Scottish seaweed Figure b: Saw wrack and oarweed on lower shore NatureScot. Like plants, marine algae use chlorophyll for photosynthesis. What Is Edible Seaweed? It has an unfamiliar taste, so we wanted to find ways to introduce it to people and make it easier to use and eat because it is so healthy, local and sustainable.. change in the dominant, forest-forming kelp species, going from extreme shelter at the head of sealochs through slightly greater wave exposure in the outer parts of sealochs to more wave exposed coastal sites, and finally extremely wave-exposed open oceanic sites. Its about the wellbeing of the animals and people eating good food and knowing where it comes from.. Within the photic zone species may also be zoned based on their light requirements or their tolerance to damaging wave action around the low water mark. Harpoon weed is sometimes confused with Coral weed. You can unsubscribe at any time. Recommendation is to cut at a height of 15 to 25 cm above the holdfast. And the common name? Green, grass-like seaweed with tubular fronds. Hand harvesting generally takes longer to regenerate requiring a longer period before returning to harvest the same area again, Typically harvested by hand at low tide with knives, scissors or scythes, cutting above the holdfast to allow regrowth, Typically hand harvested at low tide with knives, scissors or scythes, cutting above the holdfast to allow regrowth, Common name/s: Saw wrack or Toothed wrack, Gathered by hand during May and June, and the fronds are cut at least 10 cm from the mushroom-like base, Hand harvested by wading, diving or cutting from a small boat at low tide using knives, scissors or scythes. If the holdfast is accidentally pulled off from the substrate, the holdfast is cut from the frond before processing. Green seaweed with spongy texture resembling deer antler velvet. All content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except for graphic assets and where otherwise stated, 5. in some estuaries ( e.g. Bright green and grows up to 40cm in length. Current seaweed harvesting activity mainly takes place in Orkney, the Western Isles, Fife, Ardnamurchan, Loch Sunart, Bute, and Caithness ( Figure 8). When the tide goes out it often forms huge piles. The fronds are cut at least 10 cm from the mushroom-like base. This photographic guide aims to demystify seaweed identification for the non-specialist. Table 6: Summary of harvesting activities in Scotland, Outer Hebrides (specifically Lewis, Harris, North Uist, South Uist). 3.10.5. The impact objective is sustainable production of seaweed for a range of commercial applications. 3.10.4. 4 Seaweed Farming Feasibility Study for Argyll and Bute (November 2019) 78. These are used in foods, textiles and pharmaceuticals. Ulva lactuca often does not grow in large patches, so harvesting can be a labour intensive effort which only yields small amounts. Harvesting method would involve removing 2/3 of the blade/thallus trying to leave the holdfast and meristem. The Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 (as amended) gives crofters access to reasonable use of seaweed under Common Grazings regulations and these rights are attached to particular tenancies. Traditionally, harvesters encircle a chosen cutting area with a rope or net and will then cut within this area. 3.15.3. Appendix C: Background Information on Seaweeds and Seagrasses, 17. Our farming has therefore been targeted on species of seaweed that we have good amounts of, but that there is a limit to how much we can get from wild harvesting. This year was the first year with a full growing cycle on the farm and it was very successful which is great news for all at SHORE. In Scotland seagrasses grow in sheltered waters such as inlets, bays, estuaries and saltwater lagoons; in more exposed areas beds tend to be smaller and patchier (Davison & Hughes, 1998). The distribution of this group is likely to have been highly underestimated as it is a less conspicuous intertidal species that does not regularly form a dominant feature/biotope in the available spatial data layers. 3.8.1. across the British Isles. Remarkably for something so large, it is an annual. Stratification in Response to Exposure. There is strong emphasis on an ecosystems approach to managing and restoring marine and coastal environments. They are widely distributed in colder zones and are absent from tropical waters. book reviews and letters. In other countries, it is harvested by specially designed seaweed trawlers that use a dredge. Inter/subtidal. An overview of the distribution of each broad group and key corresponding EUNIS habitats is provided in Table 3. Opportunists are generally smaller, have simple form, short life-span, fast growth rate, a relatively wide tolerance to environmental conditions, and are reproductive for most or all of the year so that they can rapidly and opportunistically colonise spaces that occur in habitats. The shells are oval or pear-shaped, up to 11cm across. Edible; used as a sugar substitute. One food production company doing just that is SHORE, the Scottish Seaweed Company, based on the north-east coast of the Scottish Highlands. Fucus serratus is often the dominant algal species found at this point on the shoreline. Turns green with exposure to bright sunlight. No gardener can match the perfection of beauty found in a rock pool. In Caithness, Ascophyllum sp is cut by hand. and laver ( Porphyra spp.) Restrictions also apply in some conservation sites, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSIs), and a Habitats Regulations Appraisal ( HRA) would need to be undertaken for any harvesting activities that have the potential to affect designated or proposed European/Ramsar sites and associated features. Beach-cast seaweed is 'gathered' from the shore in many of Scotland's island communities, for use as a soil conditioner or fertiliser. A monster of a seaweed, its our largest at up to four yards in length. Distribution: Found on rocky shores between the high and low water line. Spread a thin layer of rice over the nori sheet. The bushy top half of the frond is pulled off, leaving the base and holdfast behind. These have been used as the assessment areas for hazardous substances. Small and green, with crumpled, lettuce-like fronds. Examples of seaweed species in Scotland are provided in Figure 1. Over 235 species are described in detail, with colour photographs, information on habitat, distribution and confusion species. Right: Peter Elbourne, You dont want to harvest seaweed from a busy, industrialised body of water. There is also some commercial use of seaweeds - mainly egg wrack ( Ascophyllum nodosum) - as organic fertilisers. Seagrass species in Scotland comprise Zostera marina [5] , Z. noltii, and Ruppia maritima [6] . Figure d: Mixed kelps on a shallower wave exposed reef NatureScot. The membranous brown fronds of laver can be found at low tide, covering rocks like discarded plastic bags. Their mission is to turn a neglected historic superfood into an everyday product, which they are achieving by offering seaweed not only fresh in wholesale but as a selection of tasty snacks. Ecologists may call them climax species or late successional species because they can be the culmination of a process in which the seaweeds that colonise a bare area of shore go through a progression of different species starting from smaller, simpler ones. This will allow for the best targeted Environmental Assessment to be undertaken, reducing both likelihood of unnecessary assessments being conducted by the applicant and the risk of future challenge to licensing decisions. It is also investigating emerging market opportunities for various seaweed based products, including their associated wider socioeconomic impacts. 3.5.1. Figure 4: Generalised littoral and sublittoral zonation of wracks and kelps on a sheltered shore (adapted from Hiscock (1979)). They've found their way to our seas - mostly due to human activity - and settled here. However, projections estimate this figure could increase substantially by 2040. Seaweed is utilised throughout the world as a source of food, animal feed and fertiliser as well as being used in a wide range of industries such as cosmetics, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. Current Regulation of Wild Harvesting. Recommendation is to cut at a height of 15 to 25 cm above the holdfast. These efforts also ensure that the wildlife at the sites around Caithness is not disturbed by having all SHORE harvesters trained in the Marine Wildlife Conduct Code. Scottish seaweed-based products face competition from other countries for all product markets ( e.g. 3.15.1. Pollack often power upwards and attack any bait fish or sand eels, that come into vision. The dwarf eelgrass (Z. noltii) grows on sheltered seashores in the intertidal zone and never below low water mark (Davison, 1998 cited in Wilkinson & Wood, 2003). It gets a mention because its one of the prettiest of the seaweeds, forming clusters of its fan-shape fronds in rock pools. The UK National Ecosystem Assessment ( NEA) Conceptual Framework (2011) identifies intermediate and final ecosystem services and goods/benefits ( Figure 12). Nori Lyudmila Zavyalova/Shutterstock We'll start off with an easy one. Often these dominant species appear to be stable features of the shore. Currently, with seaweed harvesting and cultivation mostly occurring as small scale activities in Scotland, no information is available on its economic contribution. SC051354 Highland Good Food Partnership. Figure 8: Location of current commercial harvesting activities in Scotland. The seaweed is then filled into sacks and towed by a small boat to a sheltered area for loading onto a lorry. 21 November 2018. . Intertidal. These mushrooms are very often found on their own, causing confusion to those new to phycology. SC051354, Now closed: Were Hiring! alginates, used in foods, textiles and pharmaceuticals, including as a gelling and thickening agent. In addition to reducing the environmental impact of intensive fish aquaculture, IMTA systems add value to the investment in finfish aquaculture by increasing the yield of total biomass produced on a single site (Barrington, Chopin & Robinson, 2009). Harvested by hand at low tide; fronds above the stipe should only be harvested in mature plants. Many environmental factors affect the distribution of seaweed and seagrasses. At Sandy Bay in south Devon, some years ago, I discovered that its mile of very wide sandy beach had disappeared completely beneath an 8in layer of this seaweed. Identifying seaweeds on the shore can be difficult. by product type), scale (volumes, turnover, Gross Value Added (GVA) and employment) and location of seaweed based industries that may establish in Scotland. Harvest may also involve the use of boat and rake. Scotlands main commercial wild seaweed harvesting is based in the Outer Hebrides and is focussed on egg or knotted wrack (Table 1). Broadly speaking, species fall into the group that most closely matches their colour. Forms a dense carpet in pools on rocky shores. But its beauty is just the start. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC. There are some beds in the Outer Hebrides, including Loch Maddy and Loch Bi, and in Islay. Brown Algae ( Phaeophyta) Green Algae ( Chlorophyta) Red Algae ( Rhodophyta) Although algae are not plants, they do share some basic characteristics with them. Ruppia maritima (beaked tasselweed) grows in sheltered coastal brackish waters and inland saltwater habitats (lagoons) on soft sediments. The result of all that cooking is a sticky, brown paste known as laver bread, which people either love or hate. Highland Good Food head, Invitation to the Highland Good Food Gathering Y, Highland Good Food Partnership is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, registered no. ID notes: Sheet-like light green seaweed which grows up to 25cm in length and 30cm in width. Officinalis, incidentally, is found in the Latin names of species used by apothecaries. Tens of thousands of people from Orkney, the West Coast and . Maerl is found along the west coast of Scotland, in the Western Isles, Orkney, Shetland and the north coast, but is absent from the east coast (Figure 2). As the name would suggest, fronds are generally (although not always) twisted and have smooth edges and a distinct central rib. The extent and impact of each pressure from a given activity will vary according to its intensity or frequency. Fascinated by the topic, I spoke with Peter Elbourne, one of the managing directors at SHORE to find out more about their sustainable seaweed business. They also provide a number of ecosystem services (see Natural capital, ecosystem services and the Blue Economy section), including natural hazard protection and climate regulation. There will also be new markets - for example for additives to livestock feeds or the production of bioplastics. Key deliverables are expected to cover: An OSPAR agreed list of marine pressures is used to help assessments of human activities in the marine environment. Thought to be in the region of 2,100 wet tonnes (2018) but projected to have increased significantly, Caithness (east of Thurso and south towards Wick), Total quota is thousands wet tonnes per annum (based on 20% total shore biomass). Most seaweeds have special applications in the kitchen and you cant simply boil them up. 3.2. Mechanical harvesting has also been used in the past where the seaweed and harvest area were amenable to such methods (Wilkinson, 1995). (red seaweeds). These objectives range from broad commitments to protection and enhancement of key species and habitats, to objectives that focus specifically on conserving marine ecosystems. Conservation Land Management (CLM) is a quarterly magazine that is widely regarded as essential These devices operate in areas of rocky substrate and therefore differ from other forms of dredging ( e.g. Carrageen ( Chondrus crispus) All harvesting would be by hand though access to shoreline will be by boat. Opportunists are normal members of all communities. The wracks are almost entirely intertidal, while the kelps dominate the subtidal, forming the kelp forest, but also extend into the lowest intertidal just above the low water mark. We've split the species into three groups to highlight the environmental change they indicate. When mature, fronds have yellowish, paired swollen tips; these are the reproductive structures. The early colonising species are often called opportunist species, and these include Ulva spp. It is therefore crucial that when we use our seas as a means of food production that we do so sustainably with as little impact as possible. It is also a human food in its own right. Approximate area covered by potential for kelps (Burrows et al., 2014) is provided in the table in brackets. Apparently stable climax communities may change in response to changes in environmental conditions. Living seaweeds and seagrasses are present in the intertidal zone and in subtidal coastal areas where sunlight reaches the seabed ( i.e. Subtidal. This brown seaweed has paired air bladders (which look like bubbles). We are pioneers in the sustainable farming of seaweed in the UK and promote responsible management of the ocean's resources. Therefore any applicant must provide assessment of the effects of their proposed activity in support of their application. However, dulse is the exception because you can. Existing devices include the Norwegian kelp dredge designed to harvest Laminaria hyperborea and the Scoubidou which is designed to harvest L. digitata. Where plants are removed accidentally then every other plant is either cut or removed in a patch. the nature of the resource ( i.e. Globally,. Laminaria is the main seaweed used in Scotland, but Red-weed, green-weed, purple-weed, and pinkweed each with its own unique benefits. shores abraded by coarse sand in strong wave action, they may be naturally abundant. Mechanical methods may be used in other countries. A stock biomass assessment to predict sustainably available annual volumes for each species proposed to be harvested (as an acceptable percentage of standing stock); A sustainable harvesting strategy setting out harvesting methods, the proportion of individual plants or plant populations to be harvested, the frequency of removal, wildlife and habitat disturbance considerations, rotational fallowing. Fife; Caithness (Ham to Scarfskerry); Bute, Fife; Caithness (Ham to Scarfskerry); Loch Sunart (Salen to Glenmore Bay); Ardnamurchan; Bute. British and Irish seas are home to more than 600 species of seaweed; this is more than 6% of the known species globally. Table 4 identifies the main seaweed and seagrass species that are either harvested at present or could be harvested in the future. Further information on the specific EUNIS habitats that represent each of the broad seaweed and seagrass groups in the distribution maps and the spatial data layers used is included in Appendix C (Table C2) . You can change your cookie settings at any time. Smaller areas of wracks are also located along the southeast coast of Scotland. In the Western Isles, for example, beach-cast Laminaria spp. Nearly all kelps are ecologically important for another reason they form extensive kelp forests. Human beings have used seaweed for a wide range of purposes for centuries. 3.10.6. However, there can be an exceptional abundance of them when there is physical disturbance or considerable nutrient enrichment. In locations with higher tidal range, it may be possible to harvest without a boat. Mechanical cutting of egg or knotted wrack takes place in Lewis and Harris. This project is funded by the Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund. A glossy, golden-brown kelp up to 2m long, with distinctive fingers on broad fronds. Plants are cut above the meristem (growth point) to allow regrowth. A seaweed review commenced in 2019 to gather evidence on the sustainability of current and future seaweed harvesting activity and consider opportunities to grow the wider sector. Published. Wracks primarily grow on intertidal rocky shores and also on sheltered, mud, sand or gravel shores. www.researchgate.net/publication/269996303_Integrated_multi-trophic_aquaculture_IMTA_in_marine_temperate_waters, https://pureadmin.uhi.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/3263673/Burrows2018_1.pdf, www.gov.scot/publications/wild-seaweed-harvesting-strategic-environmental-assessment-environmental-report/, https://www.zerowastescotland.org.uk/content/integrated-multi-trophic-aquaculture, Lack of regional evidence / robust assessment criteria, but no or few concerns for some local areas, Lack of regional evidence / robust assessment criteria, but some concerns for some local areas, Lack of regional evidence / robust assessment criteria, but many concerns for some local areas. Figure 1: Seaweed resource areas from 2016 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of wild seaweed harvesting. It lurks in kelp (seaweed) beds, in rocky ground rich in feature and hiding spots. Furthermore, there is a large area of Scotland's foreshore and intertidal zone with no data available but which may also provide additional biological resource. At the end of 2018, SHORE became the first seaweed company in Scotland to put a farm at sea. "There is current interest and there may be more interest in future in new types of seaweed harvesting in Scottish water. Small-scale harvesting took place in Shetland until relatively recently (circa 2010). They are divided into three taxonomic groups: brown, red and green. Sugar kelp can be confused with Dabberlocks and Wakame. Within the photic zone species may also be zoned based on their light requirements or their tolerance to damaging wave action around the low water mark. 3.13.7. Please consult the FeAST webpage for further information and up to date information. It is also considering the environmental implications of seaweed removal by any method. Figure 4 to Figure 7 illustrate zonation of seaweed species, based on these tolerances. The main issue is how you cook the stuff. And it comes at a relatively little cost to the environment, when you do it right. Positions higher up the shore in the intertidal or littoral zone are more stressful because the organisms, which are marine, have to withstand increased periods out of seawater, exposed to the drying effect of air, and the salinity shock of fresh rainwater. Gathered by hand during May and June. The colonisation of British shores by introduced seaweeds, such as wireweed and wakame (Japanese kelp), is causing concern for native biodiversity. Published. those found on the west coast and in Hebridean sealochs. Unlike the seaweeds coating Garvie Bay's rocky shore, it prefers deeper waters that cover it even at low tide. Seaweed harvesting is currently limited in scale and method and consists mainly of hand harvesting close inshore with some gathering of cast seaweed from shorelines. 3.14.6. Figure c: Kelp forest in shallow water, Loch Laxford NatureScot. The range of methods that are currently used to commercially harvest wild seaweeds, and that could potentially be used to harvest seagrasses, can be classified into five broad groups ( Table 5). Air bladders help seaweeds float so they can reach the sunlight and photosynthesize at the ocean surface. Gutweed Chlorophyta ( Ulva intestinalis) A seaweed of the upper shore, gutweed is able to tolerate very low salinities. The Crown Estate applies a proportionate approach to the leasing of wild harvesting activities ( Figure 10). In Scotland, some beach-cast, Common name/s: Carragheens, Irish moss or Carrageen moss, Common name/s: Carragheens, Climhin Cait, False Irish moss, Harvested at low tide by hand with scissors or a blade above the holdfast to allow regrowth. Although they may be tough they are likely to be well-adapted to a specific set of conditions where they form the climax communities (and therefore may be vulnerable to change in these conditions). This method involves the collection of beach-cast species from the strandline by hand. I have no pollution concerns from where we are harvesting. A Scottish Government review is underway to gather evidence on the environmental implications of seaweed removal by any method and to consider the sustainable development of the seaweed sector. The two dominant groups of large seaweeds on the shore, wracks and kelps, generally have different habitat preferences. In Scotland, manual harvesting only is undertaken, using a small boat at low tide, usually by stepping out of the boat to cut the seaweed with a knife. (green seaweeds) and some Porphyra spp. Seaweed cultivation is a growing area of interest. The review found that Scotland's seaweed sector currently delivers an estimated gross value added (GVA) of 510,000 and employs around 60 people, with small, artisan style businesses leading the domestic sector. Harvesting is done by hand cutting or raking, usually in late summer. The shellfish benefit from the organic particulates and the seaweed from the soluble nutrients, including nitrogen. The majority of red seaweeds are located along the west coast of Scotland, the Inner Hebrides, the west coast of the Outer Hebrides and around Orkney and Shetland. Clicking the pressure will give you more information on the pressure and examples of how it may be associated with the activity. 3.12.1. UK sea temperatures have risen 2C in the past 40 years. Distribution: Found on the mid-shore on sheltered rocky coasts. There are many shores of intermediate exposure with some features of both diagrams, depending on the exposure of the shore.. Harvested by hand with scissors or a blade at low tide. Figure 7 illustrates two features: Figure 7: Depth transition of kelps from sheltered to exposed shores (adapted from Scott (1993). All of their harvesting areas are controlled and include designated no-take zones. horticultural and agricultural applications. Farming will hopefully open up new markets for seaweed, which will solve what Peter tells me is one of the biggest challenges the industry faces: There is a willingness to produce seaweed and there is a wonderful product but there are gaps of clear routes to market. Peter goes on to explain why farming might help: Farming is all about producing fast-growing seaweed for a wider variety of applications which includes food but also a more diverse range including bioplastics and speciality ingredients. He adds, By growing volume through farming there are a lot of things you can do at a lower price than wild harvesting., The seaweed industry in the Highlands can be a great support for local communities. Be particularly restrained with laver, as it is possible to strip a beach of this seaweed in two . Appendix B: Environmental Protection Objectives, 16. Tong Garden, Dae Chun Gim) seaweed in instant noodles (eg. Maerl is usually restricted to places such as the sills of fjords and fjards (sea lochs in Scotland), together with the shores to the leeward of headlands and island archipelagos (Lancaster et al., 2014a). Intertidal. This species is an example of a seaweed thats found a use as a cosmetic as an anti-ageing cream. This species is soft to touch and has large, obvious curved hooks. 3.13.5. Edible; used as a thickening agent. All illustrations by Dan Cole / The Art Agency. Seaweed pudding, anyone? Figure 11: Legislation and Policy Context for Wild Seaweed Harvesting. Amid the flotsam and jetsam on our beaches lies a rich abundance of brown, green and red seaweeds which can be put to good culinary and cosmetic use. But there is really only so much we can do. NHBS Ltd is registered in England and Wales: 1875194. Indeed, seaweed is a natural superfood that is packed with minerals. The wracks are almost entirely intertidal, while the kelps dominate the subtidal, forming the kelp forest, but also extend into the lowest intertidal just above the low water mark. The effects of wave action occur in both the littoral and sublittoral zones of rocky shores: in general, species can be recognised as characteristic of shelter or characteristic of wave exposure [8] . Here are 10 types of seaweed you should know. Edible; used as a curry-like spice. After an assessment has been completed it may be appropriate for an ' EIA-type' process, of Screening, Scoping and Environmental Statement stages to be applied. Other smaller beds are found along the West coast of Scotland, such as in Loch Ryan, Loch Sunart, in the Montrose Basin and in the Forth and Tay Estuaries ( JNCC, 1995; SNH, undated). Rapid warming could impact kelp forests in Scotland, although this is likely to take a long time as L. hyperborea is in the centre of its north-south distribution in Scotland (Brodie et al., 2014). Get a copy of the Wild Isles by Patrick Barkham when you subscribe to BBC Wildlife magazine today. The wracks and kelps are physically large organisms which often dominate particular zones on the shores where they occur. Naturalist John Wright explains what to look for when you come across seaweed on Britain's beaches this summer. Pebble and gravel shores that can support large seaweeds will be very sheltered and so will have wracks and kelps characteristic of strong shelter.

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