20/08/2026
We need to celebrate the wins when and wherever they arise... and this is a big wi
BIG News regarding the campaign to stop the corporate take over of seaweed harvesting here in Ireland.
In a huge victory, the licensing authority, MARA, have said that they wont be granting any licences to corporations for seaweed harvesting until a few serious issues are dealt with.
This is all thanks to you. Over 21,000 people signed the petition to stop the corporate takeover of seaweed harvesting and over 41,000 emails sent to councilors and TDs telling them to protect our coast from corporations.
What exactly happened?
Last week MARA sent letters to the corporations who have applied for harvesting licences, including Arramara, the large canadian owned corporation looking to harvest.
The letter highlighted concerns, (many of which we were raising throughout the campaign) about lack of oversight, how they measure seaweed amounts, and assess harvesting impacts. They also highlighted the fact that there's no legal framework to guide them on how corporate seaweed harvesting will interact with traditional seaweed harvesting rights.
Becuse of all of these issues MARA have said that no decisions will be made regarding the applications until at least 2027.
Massive well done to everyone who took part, signed the petition and sent the emails. Follow along to keep up to the date with whats going on and as always, when we come together, we are in fact, that people, powered change.
