UNIVERSITY scientists could provide the answer to the unsightly seaweed on Douglas beach.
A team from Durham University has been given Douglas Council’s approval, initially to a trial of baling and preserving seaweed off the beach.
They want to carry out trials in the island on using seaweed as a biofuel.
At the latest Douglas Council meeting, councillors heard that Dr Chris Greenwell of Durham University had given a presentation to the environmental services advisory committee about the matter.
In the presentation ‘Assessing the potential of seaweed for biogas: feasibility, Isle of Man’, Dr Greenwell explained that research was currently being carried out into extending the use of marine plants, including seaweed, as well as different ways of converting biomass into energy.
He said that the movement towards biofuels raised wider societal concerns, as there may be conflicts between growing crops for food, and to produce biofuels to power cars, machinery and generate electricity.
Environmental services advisory committee chairman Ritchie McNicholl said councillors would all get their chance to ask questions about the project as Dr Greenwell had agreed to return to the island to give the presentation to all council members.
Mr McNicholl confirmed that the planned research differed to that of the on-going project in Strangford Loch, in Northern Ireland, where seaweed is being grown on ropes suspended in the loch as there would be no need to grow seaweed.
‘Enough comes in of its own accord,’ he said.
Meanwhile, John Skinner (Murrays) made a call to extend the time when dogs are allowed to be walked on Douglas each.
At present, no dogs are permitted from 10am-6pm from May 1 to September 30.
Mr Skinner said half of Douglas beach could be opened up during the day, saying: ‘The days of children digging up the beach, sadly, are long gone.’
Karen Angela (Athol) agreed with Mr Skinner, saying the council was ‘alienating’ dog owners by not allowing them more areas to exercise their dogs during the day.
Mr McNicholl said he wanted to avoid allowing irresponsible dog owners with their animals on the beach outside the current times: ‘Unfortunately owners don’t come with badges with irresponsible or responsible on.’
He said that the council had already paid ‘great expense’ to provide a large dog exercise area at Noble’s Park.
