Call for seaweed on Louth coastline to be tested to ensure it is not ‘toxic’
Seaweed which has washed up on the Louth coastline should be tested to ensure it isn’t “toxic”, a meeting of Louth County Council heard.
Cllr. Michelle Hall said she had concerns about some of the foul smelling seaweed which appeared in large masses on beaches in Louth last summer.
Speaking at the monthly meeting of Louth County Council, she explained that authorities in France had tested similar material and found it was emitting sulphur. The decision had been taken there to remove the seaweed before it dies off.
“It caused several deaths there,” said Cllr Hall. “Because it is fine while it is alive, but when it rots it gives off sulphur.”
In an appeal to the council, she said: “If it happens again in Louth this year, can we get it tested?”
She asked if the council could look at “lifting the seaweed as well, as when it dies that’s when it causes problems for both animals and people too.”
The summer of 2025 had seen “unprecedented levels” of seaweed reported along the beach at Clogherhead.
Residents of Blackrock had also reported “foul-smelling” seaweed which had washed up on the shore in the north of the county.