A BAN on kelp dredging could cost the country £300 million, it is claimed.
Ayr-based Marine Biopolymers (MBL) wants to harvest 30,000 tonnes of the seaweed off the west coast as it seeks to turn material manufactured from the plant into eco-friendly bioplastics and even high-strength transparent visors and shields for use by the police and armed forces.
But it says MSPs could wash away the chance to create a big-money business if they pass new legislation that bans kelp dredging later this week.
The move could be passed in the Scottish Crown Estate Bill on Wednesday.
Measures outlawing the practice were written into the legislation after more than 14,000 people signed a petition in favour of the protection.
Veteran naturalist Sir David Attenborough has also spoken out in support, saying it is “absolutely imperative that we protect our kelp forests”.
But MBL co-founder David Mackie insisted its plans to harvest the seaweed laminaria hyperborea are “entirely sustainable”.
As MBL developed its processes to remove alginate from the seaweed, it found marine cellulose was also produced.
Mark Dorris, of Edinburgh Napier University, has been working with that to create new nanocellulose products said to be better than the wood pulp-derived alternative.
This raw product can be turned into bioplastics to be used in food packaging for products such as sandwiches and ready meals, but work has also been taking place with the Ministry of Defence to develop a “transparent armour” which could be used for helmet visors and body shields by police and the armed services.
Mackie said: “We worked long and hard to develop our process, basically we have turned the whole alginate processing upside down, to get to what is absolutely unique, nobody else does it.”
Dorris added: “I would ask and expect the green lobby to get right behind it.
“This is a green technology, it is a green project and it will be worth an awful lot of money to the Scottish economy.
“It is estimated in five years’ time the global market for nanocellulose will be a billion dollar industry, and it’s a simple stark choice – either we lead the world or other people do it and we chip in from the sidelines.”
Meanwhile, campaigners from the Help the Kelp and No Kelp Dredging drives have asked urged MSPs not to water down protection for a “building block” of the sub-sea ecosystem in favour of “private profit”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel