Recently, representatives from Scourie Community Development Company, Assynt Development Trust and Kinlochbervie Community Company met with consultants Stevie Jerrad from Argyll Aquaculture and Cait-Murray, Scientific Strategic Consultancy, to investigate the viability of seaweed farming in NW Sutherland.
Open meetings followed in Scourie, Lochinver and Kinlochbervie where people raised concerns around housing, access to fresh food, the ability to bring benefits to the local community rather than seeing wealth resources drained to other areas. All meetings were well attended; a full progress report will be made available in December; in the meantime, I attach a brief summary outlining the work in hand;
Stevie Jerrad;
- Tasked to investigate sites for shore harvesting of seaweeds, ground truthing for sea site locations, shore studies, discussions with personnel around harbour facilities (Lochinver and KLB) and attendance at meetings with community members and interested parties in Scourie, Lochinver and Kinlochbervie
Cait Murray;
- Tasked to investigate concepts and suggestions around company structure, market opportunities for all potential and end products, begin scheduling meetings with representatives to assess volume requirements and processing needs
What’s the Plan;
It’s ambitious, but with the necessary “buy-in” and support, we strongly believe it has merit.
- To create 7 direct jobs and up to 23 indirect jobs across the region by creating 3 innovation centres to support the seaweed industry and give support to entrepreneurs and micro businesses