Bod Ayre sustainable seaweed products
20/02/2012

http://www.seaweedproducts.co.uk 

Situated between the Scottish Mainland and Norway, are the UK’s most northerly group of islands – Shetland, where Böd Ayre Products Ltd is based.

The geographical position of Shetland means is that it is many miles away from possible runoffs from Nuclear Power stations and storage such as Sellafield. However, Shetland does have the largest oil terminal in Europe, although production is in decline from the peak in the 1980s.

The Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group (SOTEAG) conduct surveillance of the site. The group is based in Aberdeen and the following is taken from the SOTEAG website:

"SOTEAG's role remains both relevant and essentialto help assure the preservation of Shetland's natural heritage, and to share with the rest of the world our experience of environmentally responsible industrial activity in a near pristine environment and distinctive cultural setting."

The organization has routinely conducted environmental monitoring since the late seventies an includes routine macrobenthic, shoreline and ornithological assessment of the area.The group also review statutory monitoring in support of the sites Pollution Prevention Control and take an active part in oil spill contingency planning.

To ensure Shetland waters and the maritime industries are safe, waters are sampled and tested routinely to monitor biotoxin producing phytoplankton as an early detection tool for the three major toxic genera Pseudo-nitzchia, Alexandrium and Dinophysis. Sample collection and testing is carried on behalf of the Food Standards Agency Scotland from pre-determined representative monitoring points in Shetland as part of a UK wide monitoring program to continually monitor likelihood of shellfish poisoning. The service focuses on the most likely times of the year, April-November, consisting of weekly to fortnightly test regimes. The sample collection team is located at the Marine Centre in Scalloway who also take shellfish samples for biotoxin in shellfish and E.coli classification of growing waters. What do these results generally show for Shetland?

E.coli monitoring: Shellfish coastal production areas approximately 90% Class A sites. Class A classification is the highest quality standard for shellfish growing waters Biotoxins outbreaks both monitored during end product testing and official control testing. Approximate figure 5% of samples tested were positive in 2011.

Link attached gives more detail

http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/execsummbmpscotland1011.pdf

 A useful Link can be found at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/16182005/37

The Shetland Islands hosts the best display of breeding seabirds in Europe. The coastal areas also have an abundance of otters, forming one of the largest and densest populations in Europe, along with large numbers of both common and grey seals, dolphins, sharks and whales.

Simon King, natural history presenter and Britain's best-known wildlife cameraman, is passionate about Shetland. In 2009 Simon carried out filming of his ‘Shetland Diary’ conveying the wonderful wildlife along with the almost ‘permanent daylight’ in mid summer. He also showed in contrast Shetland’s fierce winter storms.

http://www.shetlandmarketing.org/simon-king-reveals-his-shetland-diaries 29.11.11

To see some of the abundance of wildlife around Shetland – you can view at:

http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/latestcetaceans.htm

 The wildlife includes most peoples’ favourite – the otter – seen here among some Shetland seaweed.

Shetland’s coastal waters are the most productive in the world. The Continental shelf around Shetland is a mixing zone for nutrients welling up from the depths. Because of this the maritime industries have always been the Shetland Islands main contribution to the local economy including fishing, salmon farms and mussel farms.

Böd Ayre Products is commercially leading the way in the UK by carrying out two trial seaweed cultivation farms and is looking to put further seaweed farms in place around Shetland’s shores, thus adding another dimension to the maritime industries.

Seaweeds thrive in Shetland’s clean, clear waters. This became our inspiration to produce natural and organic seaweed products. Presently, most of the seaweed is harvested by hand from around Shetland’s coastline, using a sustainable management plan.   

The cultivation of seaweed will enhance the production, and provide the possibility of growing particular species of seaweed (provided the species is already growing naturally within the area).

Presently the main species growing naturally on the trial seaweed farms is the Laminaria saccharina (Sugar kelp).

Historically Shetlanders used to collect ‘waar’ – seaweed blown up on the beaches following storms. Knowing its high nutrient value, this was traditionally applied to benefit the land, cooked to feed to animals and through times of hardship, Shetlanders would harvest fresh seaweeds to eat. Shetland seaweed was also a commercial industry being shipped to the UK mainland in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Having vision and appreciating the nutrient value and numerous potential uses of seaweed, along with reviving the tradition, using modern techniques, Margaret and Michael Blance, founded Böd Ayre Products Ltd in 2003 and are both engaged full time in the management and running of the company.  

Böd Ayre Products has already produced a portfolio of organically certified seaweed products specifically focusing on animal feed and plant fertiliser. The aim is now to include in the portfolio high quality Shetland seaweeds to introduce into the cosmetic industry, as well as the food industry.

The Business has recently completed an energy saving project, with the erection of a 20kw wind turbine north from the seaweed factory, which is providing low carbon energy to new clean production facilities, for processing seaweed extract suitable for the cosmetic industry, and dried edible seaweed products. 

 Our Mission:

Our mission is to run a profitable business by providing natural and sustainable products derived from seaweed. The Company seeks to promote the importance of health and well being of the environment and its inhabitants, both people and wildlife, whilst protecting the economy, thus helping to encourage us all to live in a sustainable way that doesn’t harm the planet now or for future generations to come.

 Sustainability:

The seaweed used in the products is harvested by hand, using no machines, and is part of a sustainable management plan, thus ensuring the sustainability of the local ecosystem. 

Bod Ayre are currently offering excellent discounts on our larger sized
containers of our Sea-X Seaweed Extract (filtered).

25 litres £140.99
210 litres  £497.99
1000 litres £1808.99

Potential customers can telephone to discuss

Böd Ayre Products Limited, ‘Hamnavoe’ Lunnaness Vidlin Shetland ZE2 9QF 

Tel/Fax: +44(0)1806 577328

enquiries@seaweedproducts.co.uk

http://www.seaweedproducts.co.uk

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