Under consideration PE2117: Ban the use of toxic chemicals along our coasts

Background information

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency currently licenses these chemicals to kill seaweed on jetties and slipways. In 2022 I discovered Edinburgh council was using a product labelled as "very toxic to aquatic life with lasting effects" to kill seaweed in South Queensferry. The council argued that the practice is required to reduce the slip risk for cruise ship passengers, a lucrative revenue source.

The product is banned by the Royal Yachting Association. When I notified the council thanked me and promised to replace the chemical with a safe alternative.

This year I discovered that the replacement, sodium hypochlorite, has very similar labelling and both carry the "Dead Fish" pictogram graphic.

Sodium hypochlorite is also labelled:

"causes severe skin burns and eye damage"
"may be corrosive to metals"
"contact with acids liberates toxic gas"

A ban is required because SEPA should not be licensing toxic products.

N.B. the Committee should therefore not take advice from SEPA on this matter.