The planning applications for 110 hectares in Gerrans Bay have now been withdrawn due to significant adverse pressure from local groups and individuals.

Official statement on behalf of Biome and The Carbon Sea Garden

Re: MLA/2023/00370 and MLA/2023/00371
With regards to the license applications referenced above we are issuing the following statement dated 5th January 2023.
Both Biome and The Carbon Sea Garden acknowledge the many concerns that have been raised by different members of the local community. We still strongly believe in the positive environmental, economic and social benefits seaweed farming can bring to Cornwall.  But as responsible operators, we also recognize that it is important to support and have the
support of the communities within which we operate.  As a result, we will respectfully withdraw our current applications. We would like to thank members of the local community who have shown support throughout the public consultation process. We will return in the near future and will aim to develop a feasible project in an area outside of Gerrans Bay. This will be developed with community representatives from an early stage – where we can build positive relationships and demonstrate the wider value and benefits of the seaweed project.
Kindest regards – Biome Algae and Carbon Sea Garden

Coincidentally the BBC transmitted this on 8 January 2024.  You can listen to it below.
A Seaweed Revolution in the UK?
The Food Programme

Seaweed farming could be a huge boon for the UK, restoring biodiversity, cleaning the sea and could even be capturing carbon. Seaweed is healthy and delicious but UK grown seaweed has a very low profile with only a handful of farms across the country and few people eating it. In this programme Leyla Kazim finds out why this is and what a future focused on seaweed could look like.

She talks to Vincent Doumeizel author of The Seaweed Revolution who believes seaweed is an answer to many of the crises we face as a species. In St Austell bay, Cornwall she meets Tim van Berkel from the Cornish Seaweed Company and sees one of the few seaweed farms in the UK. What is the current state of Seaweed farming? We hear from Elisa Capuzzo CEFAS. Leyla meets Douglas McMaster at his restaurant Silo to talk about seaweed as an ingredient. She also talks to Olly Hicks, adventurer and seaweed farmer who has a licence for a huge seaweed in Devon but is currently selling the seaweed for use in agriculture.

There were two live planning applications for 110 hectares in Gerrans Bay. This is through the Marine Management Organisation rather than Cornwall Council.

Message from Councillor Julian German who represents The Roseland.

The applications are for two seaweed farms of 55 hectares, combined this is the size of 176 full size football pitches (at 0.62 hectares). There will be navigation lights on the corners of the site and the infrastructure will include 9,400 floats. The application is for use of the site for 50years.

These are the facts of the applications as I understand them. I wanted to make you aware so that you can consider the applications for yourself.

You can find the application on the website marinelicensing.marinemanagement.org.uk On the front page, you click on public register, next, click on view register. On this page, in case reference put MLA/2023/00370 or MLA/2023/00371 – there are two separate applications, so both need to be responded to individually – and press search.

Please take this opportunity to give your views.

The following posters have been produced by the local campaign group.