Concerns raised about seaweed build-up on Clogherhead beach

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

Concerns about the “unprecedented” build-up of seaweed along the Clogherhead coastline in County Louth have been raised by a local councillor.

Speaking at the July meeting of Drogheda Borough District, Cllr, Declan Power highlighted the increasing levels of seaweed over recent months, which he said was not receding with the tide.

He acknowledged there were environmental issues at play, but asked if Louth County Council could explore the possibility of removing a top layer of the seaweed and depositing it closer to the sand dunes, where it might act as “a natural fertiliser.”

"This would reduce the levels, and help the remaining seaweed to be taken out by the low tides there.”

He warned that the warmer weather in July could worsen the situation at the beach, as it was already beginning to decompose, so strong odours are likely to develop, and the surface may become slippery.

In response, Mark Johnston, Senior Engineer at Louth County Council, said that while it sounded a simple task to remove the seaweed, it was an ecologically sensitive area, and seaweed is a “natural product of the sea.”

He added that an appropriate assessment would need to be carried out as moving it to sand dunes “would cause its own problems,” especially in SAC (Special Area of Conservation) zones.