Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Growing FAQs and other Information => Topic started by: Willie_Eckerslike on November 22, 2011, 00:34

Title: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Willie_Eckerslike on November 22, 2011, 00:34
I've been reading up on plant foods, and seaweed seems an important plant food. I was wondering if it may make sense to do a trip to the coast, collect some seaweed in my trailer, dry it, shred it, and dig it into my plot, particularly with my potatoes............... but is it legal?
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: arugula on November 22, 2011, 06:18
This depends on who owns the particular section of shoreline. If it is privately owned, you can and should ask permission.

Approximately half of the UK foreshore and around half of the tidal riverbeds are owned
by the Crown and managed by The Crown Estate,

The intertidal zone is otherwise known as the foreshore.

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/media/174947/shoreline_management_briefing_note.pdf





Edit to fix broken link
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Beetroot queen on November 22, 2011, 08:04
I was told you can as long as it's not living ie attached to rocks etc. Mind you turning up with trailer may get you some funny looks but an odd carrier bag full should be ok
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Aidy on November 22, 2011, 10:38
This is another one of those very grey areas, I would say to check with your local council as they maybe local bylaws prohibiting it, as with drift wood.

I have taken it in small quanities before, only once have I been challenged, tho they didnt say if I could continue or not!
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: bigben on November 22, 2011, 11:59
I think your meant to get permission first. You might get away with a bag or two but a trailer is possibly asking for trouble. If you fill the last bit of each bag with rubbish - plastic etc you might even convice people you are doing community service tidying up the beach!
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Kleftiwallah on November 22, 2011, 12:49
The harbourmaster of Lyme Regis says I can have as much as I want off Monmouth beach,  must drop off a jar of jam and a bottle of home made wine on my next visit.  :wub:    Cheers,    Tony.
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Robert_S on November 22, 2011, 16:03
If it's washed up (ie on the tideline) then isn't it fair game, along with wood and other "beachcombable" stuff?

Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: mumofstig on November 22, 2011, 16:14
RHS advice
Quote
Fresh seaweed has long been used by coastal gardeners as a soil improver and plant feed, but there is no public right to collect seaweed from the beach unless you own the beach and it is not designated a site of special scientific interest or a special area of conservation. If you plan to gather seaweed, it is always advisable to check with the land owner and the local council first.

That should make the position clear enough, as everyone seems to have ignored Argyllie's earlier advice!

Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Willie_Eckerslike on November 22, 2011, 16:24
Thanks Mum.  :)
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Aidy on November 22, 2011, 16:35
I have fired off several emails to both local and national bodies etc, I shall post any replies I receive from them.
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: bazh on November 22, 2011, 18:59
As long as it's not for commercial use (for which you need a licence) and you have permission your allowed to take it.
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: mumofstig on November 22, 2011, 19:02
As long as it's not for commercial use (for which you need a licence) and you have permission your allowed to take it.

Of course you are.............it's the need for permission that some people find difficult to accept  :nowink:
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: chili on November 22, 2011, 19:29
as a fisherman i am sure that anything below the high tide line is free to anyone.
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: joyfull on November 22, 2011, 19:33
RHS advice
Quote
Fresh seaweed has long been used by coastal gardeners as a soil improver and plant feed, but there is no public right to collect seaweed from the beach unless you own the beach and it is not designated a site of special scientific interest or a special area of conservation. If you plan to gather seaweed, it is always advisable to check with the land owner and the local council first.

That should make the position clear enough, as everyone seems to have ignored Argyllie's earlier advice!



Please read this advice - then you will know whether it is legal or not, Many thanks to Argyllie and Mum of Stig for posting the lawful advice even though some obviously chose to ignore it  ::)
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Yorkie on November 22, 2011, 19:34
as a fisherman i am sure that anything below the high tide line is free to anyone.

Sorry but you are not right, however much you would like to be.

The legal position has been stated and re-stated.
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Yorkie on November 22, 2011, 19:35
If it's washed up (ie on the tideline) then isn't it fair game, along with wood and other "beachcombable" stuff?



No.
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: sunshineband on November 22, 2011, 19:43
I'm getting dizzy from all this ---  no-one is allowed to take anyhting, including seaweed, from the shoreline or below without the landowner's position.

What is the difficulty with that?

I don't get it -- you woudn't take something from a 'public' park afer all.

Some do -- doesn;t make it right
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Yorkie on November 22, 2011, 19:45
I think the question has been comprehensively answered and there is no point in going round in further circles, so I am now locking this thread.

Aidy, if you get responses to your questions, please do PM a Moderator and we'll add the info to the thread.
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Aunt Sally on November 23, 2011, 15:29
Message From Aidy



Hi Aunty.
I noticed the seaweed thread had been locked, as I mentioned I had emailed several bodies and just had a reply from Blackpool council so thought I would pm you, I am thinking it may be worth putting it up as a sticky for future as it does pop up from time to time.
Our council say it is permitted to take seaweed/ driftwood off the beach but not sand/ pebbles. Here is their reply....

Dear Mr *,

I have contacted our Beach Patrol (01253 626141) who have clarified that whilst sand and pebbles are not permitted to be taken from the beach, driftwood and seaweed are both allowed to be removed.

They also wanted me to add that when on the beach you should always take care and be aware of the sea, tide times and weather conditions.

Kind regards,
etc etc etc



I will advise when I get a reply from the enviromental agency etc but I would assume that the council would know of any laws that prohibit it. I also know there is several bodies trying to change this as the strand line is seen as a micro enviroment for many creatures, but as the law stands you are permitted.
Regards
Aidy


This information applies to shore line in the Blackpool Council area.
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Aunt Sally on November 23, 2011, 17:09
More information from Aidy.




Environmental agency's reply.....

Dear *
 
Thank you for your enquiry regarding the taking of driftwood and seaweed from the beach at Blackpool, this has been passed to the council at Blackpool who will be replying to you shortly.
 
 
 
Regards
Margaret James
Customer Service Advisor
National Customer Contact Centre
Part of National Operations
 


So I guess as they have no legal standing its down to local authority I therfore assume unless there is no local by-laws restricting it its perfectly legal to take it off.




I would assume the opposite and take it that it's not legal unless there is a bye-law allowing it.

It boils down to the best advice is:  contact your local council and ask.  If they don't have responsibility for the foreshore they may be able to tell you who owns it.
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Yorkie on November 23, 2011, 20:17
I hesitate to continue to post on this locked thread but I have to correct Aidy's assumption.  The EA has no legal standing in this issue and therefore their reply is not relevant legally.

The legal position is as follows for any land around the UK:

All land has an owner.  Very broadly speaking, anything on that land belongs to the land owner unless specific rights have been granted to others.

Above high water mark the owner will probably either be an individual or the local authority.

Below high water mark, up to and including the sea bed, the most likely owner is the Crown Estate.  Alternative owners may include the local authority or the Duchy of Cornwall.

You may not remove anything from land without permission of the land owner.  Otherwise it is potentially theft or other more specific offences.  Seaweed is included in this rule.

So, as Aunt Sally has said, first you must identify the owner of the land.  Best to contact your local council and ask a) who is the land owner of the area above high water mark, and b) who is the land owner of the foreshore i.e. between high and low water marks.  If they cannot establish themselves as legal owners, then you can assume it is Crown Estate.

Once you have establised ownership, then you can determine from the owner what permissions, if any, apply with regards to the abstraction or removal of seaweed from above and below the high water line.  For land owned by the local authority, bye-laws will be the best evidence of general permissions.

The situation will differ around the UK.

Note: The Crown Estate have given some guidance here
https://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/rural-and-coastal/coastal/seaweed-harvesting/
Quote
Collection for personal use does not require a licence and we are content for such collection to proceed for small quantities. We recommend anyone doing so takes account of environmental sensitivity of collecting anything from the wild
Title: Re: Is it legal to take seaweed from our beaches here in the UK?
Post by: Aunt Sally on November 24, 2011, 14:27
Another reply to Aidy:



Another reply, this time Fylde Borough Council.
Basicly no problem but they don't encourage it and so long as I don't turn up with a JCB!
Aidy