The Vigo-based company will produce about 18 tons annually of this native seaweed in two farming zones in Cangas and Redondela.

The Consellería do Mar has granted the Vigo-based company HQ Seaweed SL an experimental concession for the cultivation of kombu seaweed (Saccharina latissima) in the Vigo estuary, in two farming zones in Redondela and Cangas.

This is stated in the resolution signed by the Director General of Fisheries, Antonio Basanta, published in the Official Gazette of Galicia (DOG) this Wednesday.

The environmental impact report, which was already approved in 2021, outlined an annual production of about 18 tons—approximately nine tons per farming zone—of this native macroalga.

The installation in Redondela is located in a Red Natura area, in the San Simón inlet, although the Xunta considers that “no significant environmental effects are expected.”

In the area of the Battle of Rande

In fact, the Directorate General of Cultural Heritage noted at the time that the Redondela area is a protected environment for underwater archaeological heritage due to identified shipwrecks from the Battle of Rande (1702), included in the Cultural Heritage Catalog of Galicia. Therefore, the floating structure to be installed “may affect undocumented archaeological remains.”

In response, the environmental report required the company to carry out a prior underwater archaeological survey before cultivation to assess potential impacts.

The Directorate General of Natural Heritage identified a grid containing “a number of protected species.” However, it does not foresee significant effects based on the documentation provided by the project promoter. Likewise, the Redondela City Council requests an annual report on environmental incidents.