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5,416 tonnes of green seaweed farmed from St. Aubin’s Bay have been sent directly to benefit suitable farm land this year.
The seaweed provides landowners with a source of organic fertiliser, with an aim of reducing the amount of additional chemicals being used by the farming industry.
The seaweed is cleared by Surf Rakes which load the sea lettuce straight into muck spreaders that take the valuable organic matter to fields as a top dressing and source of plant nutrients.
Answering a written question last week, Environment Minister Deputy Jonathon Renouf, explained that the Government team responsible for removing and disposing of sea lettuce along St. Aubin's Bay had increased the amount harvested, though sea lettuce continues to be present.
The quantity of nitrates entering St. Aubin’s Bay both from land run-off and from the waste-water treatment works at Bellozanne impacts the growth of the nuisance weed.
Deputy Renouf explained that the new waste-water treatment works is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2023.
Pictured: Despite harvesting up to 200 tonnes per day, there is a "constant battle" against new sea lettuce coming in with the tide. (Kieranne Grimshaw)
The new facility will result in lower levels of total nitrogen entering the bay and increased volumes of treatment during storm conditions leading to less shock loading of total nitrogen. These improvements should help limit the annual volume of this nuisance weed.
Explaining the effort to clear the beach before Battle of Flowers earlier this year, Senior Operations Manager Bruce Labey said: "Our work to clear sea lettuce is determined by the amount of it, and the state of the tides. We do try and make a special effort for the Battle of Flowers as it such an important event for both islanders and tourists."
The team manages to harvest 100 to 200 tonnes of sea lettuce per day.
However, Mr Labey noted: "Each tide is bringing thousands of tonnes back in twice a day, so it is a constant battle."
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