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2.4 Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier of the Minister for Planning and Environment regarding the removal of seaweed from beaches:
Would the Minister outline the current policy regarding the removal of seaweed or vraic from beaches and advise whether it is proving successful?
Deputy R.C. Duhamel (The Minister for Planning and Environment):
The disposal of materials at sea compose a threat to the marine environment and is strictly controlled by the F.E.P.A. (Food and Environment Protection Act). The T.T.S. (Transport and Technical Services) Department clean the beaches on behalf of the Economic Development Department. Seaweed is not removed from the beach but the movement of seaweed by T.T.S. is conducted in accordance with the code of practice between the Department of Environment and T.T.S. This code permits the moving of problem seaweed to an area lower down the beach, hopefully for its further dispersal by the sea. Following a recent review, the code is being updated to include, among other things, improved communications between departments and this is being assessed against the requirements in F.E.P.A.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
Can the Minister confirm that as a result of the protocol between the 2 departments, seaweed is being removed and that all the green appearance to the beaches is an illusion?
Deputy R.C. Duhamel:
That is probably a question better answered by the Minister for Transport and Technical Services but it really depends on what colour the beach is, is what colour sunglasses you are wearing.
- Deputy R.G. Le Hérissier:
It has been noted that the Minister's sense of humour has made the Times when he talked about hedge investments recently with the finding of coins. Could the Minister state, is seaweed being physically removed from the beaches and not allowed to remain there?
Deputy R.C. Duhamel:
I do not think it is. The policies at the moment, as I mentioned earlier, are more about moving seaweed from one part of the beach to a different part of the beach. Personally, I think this is not only a thankless task but a pointless task and the better approach from an environmental sustainability point of view would be to perhaps go back to encouraging businesses to remove the seaweed properly from the beach, to compost it, and to make products that could be applied on to the land and to do the job properly.