Irish eyes smile at chance to feed Japan
A small island off the north coast of Ireland has emerged as an unlikely potential supplier of edible seaweed to Japan – after its own stocks were hit by the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
A mother and son team from Rathlin, an isolated island with a population of around 100, are trying to exploit the gap in the market caused by radioactive contamination of the waters.
Kate Burns and her son Benji McFaul are growing thousands of tonnes of kelp on ropes that extend out from the shoreline.
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Hide AdThey have found conditions are optimum for growing the fine species used in traditional Japanese miso soup and the thicker variety used in noodle recipes.
Ms Burns said: “The waters around the British Isles are particularly suitable because of the Gulf Stream as it means our temperatures are near optimum the year round,” she said.