It’s one of Britain’s most famous coastlines – best known for featuring in the hit series Doc Martin – but locals living near Port Isaac say they are now desperately fighting to protect their unspoiled landscape from an enormous eco project.
Plans for an industrial seaweed farm the size of the London Olympic Park near Port Quin were almost waved through without objection.
However, when the application was discovered by chance, residents launched a series of campaigns.
Meanwhile, another scheme of a similar size further along the coast was already approved before most people realised anything was happening.
Many feared the offshore eco development would harm tourism and ruin holidays in a region that attracts 500,000 visitors per day during the peak summer months.
Luckily, in April residents – backed by celebrities including Doc Martin himself, Martin Clunes, and Walking Dead actor and surfer Andrew Lincoln – celebrated what they thought was victory when the application was refused outright by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
But their joy was short-lived as one of the applicants – Camel Fish Ltd – has now appealed claiming they weren’t given a fair chance to make their case.
Local resident Barnaby Kay who has led the opposition campaign said: ‘We are absolutely devastated that this process has now moved to appeal, despite our colossal efforts to prove that the seaweed farm proposal is unviable in Port Quin Bay.
The picturesque region heavily relies on tourism and attracts 500,000 visitors per day during the peak summer months
Port Isaac is one of Britain’s most famous coastlines – best known for featuring in the hit series Doc Martin
Documents show MMO refused the application over concerns it might cause significant harm to the environment, the coastal landscape and local fishing activity
‘We wholeheartedly support the development of the seaweed cultivation industry in the UK, but not this applicant, with this proposal, in this location.
‘We will continue to fight against this, there is still huge public anger about the application.’
Documents show MMO refused the application over concerns it might cause significant harm to the environment, the coastal landscape and local fishing activity.
The report concludes: ‘Based on the existing information the proposed activities currently represent unacceptable risk to existing users of the sea.’
A hearing on the appeal is set to take place in January and a Crowdfunder set up to pay for a barrister to represent residents has already raised more than £5,000.
Clunes – who filmed on the coast from 2004 to 2022 – previously hit out at the proposal, saying. ‘It’s a hideous plan, in a beautiful and special area.
‘It was waved through without consultation or proper assessment of its environmental impact. It’s nothing short of criminal.’
Another celebrity opponent is actor and surfer Andrew Lincoln, star of The Walking Dead and Love Actually.
Local resident Barnaby Kay (pictured) who has led the opposition campaign said he is ‘devastated’ about the process
‘I’m amazed that an idea as dreadful as this has made [it] far enough to make any protest necessary,’ he declared.
‘It’s disguised as some sort of environmental favour to the area and a source of local employment. I’m under no illusion.’
But the opposition runs far deeper, locals previously told the Daily Mail they fear they will be left counting the cost.
Mark Graham, who has run shop North Coast Wetsuits for 21 years, said the proposed farm has caused major worry for local businesses.
He said: ‘It’s obviously concerning for me on a personal level, I have lived near this stretch of coastline for a long time.
‘Doc Martin brought a whole new generation of people to this bay but without the natural beauty, what are they coming for?
‘I think some businesses will be worried about going under, things like accommodation rely on walkers and ramblers and if they don’t come they can’t survive.
‘People come to visit this because of the natural beauty and the application would take away from that. ‘Anybody who has a marine or tourism business is concerned because a lot of people come and stay here to see the beautiful bay. They don’t want to see an industrial seaweed farm.’
Mark Graham, who has run North Coast Wetsuits for 21 years, said the proposed farm has caused major worry for local businesses
Avril Greenway, local resident and MD of the Cleaner Seas Project (pictured) believes that environmental concerns arising from the project would also have an impact on tourism
Avril Greenway, local resident and MD of the Cleaner Seas Project, argued that environmental concerns arising from the project would also have an impact on tourism.
Speaking after joint applicant Biome Algae chose to withdraw its application in March, she said: ‘Everything is intrinsically linked to plastic pollution, hospitality in Cornwall is down to the seas and beaches being beautiful. That’s why people come here.
‘We all support seaweed farming done right but if there is any carbon sequestered it would be offset by the extra miles it takes to drive here.’
Mark Harrison, a retired finance consultant, who lives in nearby Lundy Bay said: ‘This community is made up of a lot of different people from lifelong locals to people who’ve come on holiday to those who’ve retired here and this is the most unifying thing.
‘It’s difficult to find anybody who thinks it’s a good thing for the area. ‘I don’t think Biome have listened to residents’ concerns at all. I went to their presentation which was so poor – I don’t think it mentioned Port Quin once, it was school stuff.
‘It’s clear from the documentation they haven’t tried to address any of the issues.
‘These people switched from doing it on the south coast to here.’
Andrew Lincoln, star of The Walking Dead and Love Actually, who surfs locally has also criticised the plan
In a previous joint statement, both Biome Algae and Camel Fish said: ‘As responsible operators we have and will provide regulatory bodies with a range of reports that assess plans in relation to the environment’.
‘Both Biome and Camel Fish’s intentions are not to harm the marine environment. We will add positively to the local economy, provide career opportunities and support education.
‘It has been demonstrated that sustainable seaweed farming helps restore our marine environments. The seaweed itself has great potential to address a number of pressing planetary issues.’
Camel Fish has been contacted for comment.
