201. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which Ireland’s circular economy policy and legislation apply to the harvesting of seaweed as a finite biological resource, rather than a manufactured input; whether the circular economy framework recognises the importance of natural regeneration capacity, harvesting cycles, and ecological carrying capacity for seaweed species commonly harvested in Ireland; whether any national guidance, limits, or sustainability thresholds exist in respect of regeneration rates, harvesting intensity, or recovery periods for seaweed beds; and if not, whether he considers such limits necessary to distinguish genuinely circular use from extractive activity; whether circular economy policy requires that proposals for large-scale seaweed harvesting take account of regeneration cycles traditionally measured over multiple years, cumulative impacts, and the long-term ability of the resource to replenish itself; the way in which these principles are being applied, in practice, to the assessment of large-volume harvesting proposals, including foreshore licence application FS006108, which proposes harvesting at a scale of up to 40,000 tonnes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13721/26]

Summary

201. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the way in which Ireland’s circular economy policy and legislation apply to the harvesting of seaweed as a finite biological resource, rather than a manufactured input; whether the circular economy framework recognises the importance of natural regeneration capacity, harvesting cycles, and ecological carrying capacity for seaweed species commonly harvested in Ireland; whether any national guidance, limits, or sustainability thresholds exist in respect of regeneration rates, harvesting intensity, or recovery periods for seaweed beds; and if not, whether he considers such limits necessary to distinguish genuinely circular use from extractive activity; whether circular economy policy requires that proposals for large-scale seaweed harvesting take account of regeneration cycles traditionally measured over multiple years, cumulative impacts, and the long-term ability of the resource to replenish itself; the way in which these principles are being applied, in practice, to the assessment of large-volume harvesting proposals, including foreshore licence application FS006108, which proposes harvesting at a scale of up to 40,000 tonnes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13721/26]

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• Seaweed Harvesting

  xml · EN · 19 February 2026

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