Scotland could lose out on a £300 million industry if MSPs vote to ban the industrial harvesting of kelp in its waters, a company has claimed.
Marine Biopolymers (MBL), based in Ayr, wants to harvest 30,000 tonnes of kelp off the west coast in order to produce nanocellulose, which is used to make bioplastics and could have applications including slow-release cancer drugs and an alternative to vaginal mesh implants. MBL believes that it could be worth £300 million a year to Scotland.
Campaigners including Sir David Attenborough have said that the kelp should be protected, and the Scottish Crown Estate Bill was amended to ban the removal of entire kelp plants. MSPs will vote on the bill on November 21.
David Mackie, co-founder of MBL,