SEAWEED washed up during the winter storms is now rotting at the harbour causing a plague of flies and a pong rapidly turning Stonehaven into Stinkhaven – so a work party has been organised tomorrow at 5pm to move some of the kelp and help is needed.
It is less than a fortnight until boat owners can start mooring their boats for the summer season. And with Easter holidays and spring sunshine in the offing, families will soon want to play in the sand. But boat owners wll be unable to use the slipway if the slimy tangles are still there. And the only families currently enjoying the washed up vegetation are the seagulls and birds feasting on flies.
Cowie resident Richard Gibson owns one of the Drascombe long boats that give the harbour its seaside charm. He told The Bellman he and other boat owners have been in touch with Aberdeenshire Council asking them to take action – but they say It would be a waste of taxpayer money that is more urgently needed elsewhere within the harbour.
Take home free fertiliser for your garden
Kelp is well known as a making an excellent, nutrient-rich compost componen garden compost – especially if it is mixed with leaves or straw. So Mr Gibson is encouraging Stonehaven gardeners to help themselves to nature’s bounty.
And he is calling for help tomorrow (Saturday) evening at 5pm to move the kelp above the waterline so it can dry and be more easily transported. Wellies and a fork would be very useful.
Winter storms ripped through kelp reefs
Mr Gibson has sailed from Stonehaven harbour for over 40 years. He said he has never seen so much seaweed in the middle harbour.
Stonehaven marine biologis Craig Bunyan told The Bellman: ”Although it is rarely seen there are obviously large reefs of kelp off our shores. Remnants/fringes of them can be seen at very low tide including within the harbour outside boundaries.
”During winter storms and harsh weather conditions the wave and tidal action removes the kelp from its normal steadfast hold on rocks and seabed and then washes them ashore, accumulating within areas where tides and waves deposit them.”