Yeti101 Posted April 18, 2013 Like the title says: Is it OK to collect seaweed from NSW beaches for personal use (as compost, mulch, homemade seaweed solution etc)? This link: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/365844/Section-37-Permit-Marine-Veg-for-Commercial-Purposes-Information-Kit-12V1.pdf Suggests that it is so long as it's outside of any marine or national parks, aquatic reserves, RAMSAR wetlands or other protected zones, is dead/unattached and is less that 20kg per day (way more than I would need). My council doesn't seem to say anything about it either way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yeti101 Posted April 22, 2013 Spoke to someone from Lake Mac council today who confirmed that I can collect up to 20kg of seaweed per day. Composty goodness will ensue. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
theuserformallyknownasd00d Posted May 10, 2013 did they mention if this was council specific or a golden rule across nsw? i also do this and its never crossed my mind it may be illegal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yeti101 Posted May 10, 2013 They didn't say, they just use the DPI legislation (see link is post #1) without any of their own additions. I know that the situation is the same in the Great Lakes council area, but in other council areas I could not say. The only reason I checked is that I never saw anyone around here doing it and people around here can be protective of their beaches. If no one has made an issue of it you are probably OK- but the only way to know for sure is to call your local council. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderIdeal Posted May 10, 2013 have always been under the impression that seaweed is the property of fisheries and collecting is illegal. purely word of mouth but that includes tafe teachers. also i'm in queensland. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yeti101 Posted May 10, 2013 Quite possibly different in QLD - since it is covered by state legislation. I can't make much sense of the QLD Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website as the search function is broken. It will be a state by state thing. What I can say is that in NSW so long as it's outside of any marine or national parks, aquatic reserves, RAMSAR wetlands or other protected zones, is dead/unattached/washed up, is less that 20kg per day, is not for commercial purposes and there are no other local council regulations it seems to be OK. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Halcyon Daze Posted May 30, 2013 my brother in Tassie, collects it, and rinses it off with a watering can, then brings it home and chops it up with the mower before mixing it into the dirt or simply mulching with it. It does wonders in the veggie patch. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gecko Posted June 4, 2013 many species are good to eat too. I used to collect it very fresh kelp (Ecklonia radiata) when I lived on Nth coast NSW, hang it on the clothes line to dry and use it later for soups ( miso soup mainly) but yeah really great for compost, especially for getting sandy soils to hold more nutrients and moisture. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites