Harvesting_Brown Algae_Ireland

Affiliation
IIED
Type of wild species covered by the record
Wild species used in its natural habitat
Stage of the value chain covered by the record
Entire value chain
Record Source
Scientific publication (e.g., journal articles and book chapters independently peer-reviewed)

The sustainable harvesting of Ascophyllum nodosum (Fucaceae, Phaeophyceae) in Ireland, with notes on the collection and use of some other brown algae

Unknown/not recorded
Is the species endemic HIDE
No
Population Status
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
National Level
Unknown/not recorded
Population Trend
Unknown/not recorded
Sub-national Level
Unknown/not recorded
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Ascophyllum nodosum
Common Name(s)
Ascophyllum nodosum
Knotted Wrack
Egg Wrack
Bladderwrack
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of
Only parts or products of the organism (e.g., feathers, leaves, branches, eggs, nuts)
Details of parts/products taken

Plants are cut by hand using a small knife by gathering the fronds in one hand and cutting, leaving about 25 cm at the base for regeneration;

Are specific characteristics/traits being targeted?
Unknown/not recorded
Purpose of Use
Largescale commercial exploitation for trade
What is the main end use for any living organisms, parts or products taken/extracted?
Amount
4500.00
Units Of Measurement
dry weight tons of Ascophyllum nodosum annually (median value)
Time period over which this has been recorded
from 1964 to 2012
What is the trend in the level of offtake within the period covered by this record?
Geographic Location
Country
Ireland
Local people (e.g., individuals, communities, co-operatives)
National external (individual, groups. e.g., hunters, anglers, photographers, tourists)
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
No
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is improving the status (e.g., population is increasing or stabilising, extraction effort OR catch per unit effort is decreasing or stable)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported

it is clear that there are sufficient unharvested areas to satisfy any such requirements for conservation. At present much less than a quarter of the annualised potential yield in County Galway is being harvested.

Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Details of assessment carried out

The harvesters know from years of experience how much to leave and how often a particular population can be harvested. harvesting of Ascophyllum for nearly 50 years shows clearly that this seaweed can be sustainably harvested without any diminution of the productivity of the beds. it is clear that there are sufficient unharvested areas to satisfy any such requirements for conservation. At present much less than a quarter of the annualized potential yield in County Galway is being harvested.

Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
No
Contribution to GDP
Unknown/not recorded
Medicine/healthcare
Training/Skills
Land/Resource Rights
Decision Making
Social Cohesion
Conflict- people
Conflict- wildlife
Climate Change
Has the use of the species been recorded as resulting in changes to human health in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the species in use been noted as being of particular disease risk to humans?
Unknown/not recorded
Has the use of the species resulted in changes to animal welfare in this record?
Unknown/not recorded
Are there particular practices which have increased the risk to human or animal health or welfare in the use of this species?
Unknown/not recorded
Does the use of this species increase susceptibility to pathogen spread?
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Strong community governance/institutions/rights for wildlife management
Absent
Supportive policy and legislative framework
Absent
Adequate capacity to implement and enforce governance arrangements
Absent
Support from NGOs
Absent
Support from Government
Absent
High financial returns from use
Absent
Abundant population of target species
Absent
Biological characteristics of target species
Absent
Capacity building of community
Absent
Establishment and implementation of species and/or area management plan
Absent
Effective private sector approach engagement through certification
Absent
Good benefit-sharing mechanism
Absent
Good Market Strategies
Absent
Source Reference(s)

Guiry, M.D., Morrison, L. The sustainable harvesting of Ascophyllum nodosum (Fucaceae, Phaeophyceae) in Ireland, with notes on the collection and use of some other brown algae. J Appl Phycol 25, 1823–1830 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0027-2

Who is involved in the use?
Is there any gender/age specificity in the various roles
Unknown/not recorded
How many of these local jobs accure to the following categories?
How many people outside the local area are employed
Is there any evidence of other economic benefits associated with this use beyond direct income and jobs
Unknown/Not recorded
Scale of Assessment
IUCN National Red List Category
IUCN Global Red List Category
Green Status Global Category
Yearly Financial Flows
Other
Cosmetics
No assessment recorded
Yes, considered sustainable
Country reference