Local scuba diving couple’s healthy products harvested from our waters

Andrea Gannon is passionate about the marine environment around Co Down and especially at Strangford Lough.

It’s a passion she shares with husband Graham, a commercial diver, and their two sons.

Residents of Newtownards, they are frequently to be found scuba diving off both coastlines as well as other parts of Ireland and further afield.

Love of the sea led the couple to set up a small business, Peninsula Kelp Company, and to share the health and other benefits of local ‘sea greens’, such as kelp and dulse, with people here and beyond. Andrea has shaped the natural foods she harvests exclusively and carefully with Graham into an impressive portfolio of original products that make it easier than ever before to enjoy the fruits from the local seabed.

Interest in the unique tastes she’s creating is now global with orders being supplied to individual customers in the US, Canada, New Zealand, France, Great Britain and other parts of Europe.

“Our customers even include people in land locked Arizona,” explains Andrea. “It’s immensely encouraging to know that customers in the US state that’s so far from the Pacific Ocean have heard of our marine products and ordered them out online.”

Established by Andrea and Graham, who was born in Dublin and carries out underwater surveys and other marine commissions worldwide, last year, Peninsula Kelp is building on this growing demand for natural products. The products include dulse crackers, wild ocean greens, pure dried kelp, pure dried dulse, kelp popcorn,

infused oils and even a novel seaweed coffee. There are also two seaweed-based butters - grass-fed butter and wild sea green butter.

“Creating healthy seaweed products originally began as a bit of a hobby when I began making seaweed soap,” continues Andrea. “We had both grown up near the sea and are keen scuba divers in our spare time. I had been conscious of growing interest in kelp, dulse and other sea vegetables because of the benefits from a range of minerals, especially iodine, they contain.”

Research has shown that very many people worldwide are deficient of iodine, a mineral which plays a particularly important role in promoting thyroid health.

“The thyroid relies on iodine to make hormones. Seaweed contains a concentrated source of iodine and an amino acid called tyrosine required to ensure the thyroid functions properly. Seaweed products, in addition, may aid gut health,” adds Andrea.

“Sprinkling some dried seaweed on food not only adds taste, texture and flavour to a meal, but it’s an easy way to boost your intake of vitamins, minerals and fibre including riboflavin, thiamine, iron, manganese and copper. Seaweed, in addition, has been shown to contain small amounts of vitamins A, C, E and K, along with folate, zinc, sodium, calcium and magnesium.”

She then decided to create her own natural food and drink products and launched the small business from their home in Newtownards.

“My focus is on creating natural food products which people can add easily to their diets. This is why I’ve come up with familiar foods such as crackers, salt and other seasonings, organic coffee, culinary oils, and popcorn, a snack especially for children. All our products are organic and handmade,” states Andrea.

The culinary oils have been developed in association with Leona Kane of the multi-award-winning Broighter Liquid Gold Rapeseed Oil from Myroe, near Limavady.

Other collaborations include the creation of a delicious vegan fish and chips with chefs at the five-star Merchant Hotel in Belfast. “It’s a plant-based version of a traditional favourite,” explains Andrea. “The dish is a courgette wrapped in fresh sea kelp and then dipped in batter. It was proving to be extremely popular with diners before the lockdown.”

The small company has a license from the Crown Estate to hand harvest marine products from the seabed near Donaghadee. “Our harvesting is carried out carefully

so that the marine environment is not adversely impacted. Protecting the marine eco system is our utmost priority and so we rotate areas of the seabed to ensure

continuing long-term sustainability.

Kelp, dulse and other sea vegetables are harvested by the couple, then dried by hand by Andrea to transform into natural products which are being sold to health

shops and delis and also sold online from the company’s website (www.peninsulakelpco.com).

A unique coffee has also been created and branded as 12 Bolt Copper Collar after the traditional and cumbersome copper helmet worn by commercial deep sea divers.

The product is a blend of three certified coffees from single estate growers in Papua New Guinea, Honduras and Brazil.

“We’ve seen online sales grow significantly during the lockdown and have had inquiries from around the world,” concludes Andrea. “As well as international business, we’ve been working extensively to grow sales here especially with delis and health stores.”

In addition to the food products, Peninsula Kelp produces skin products such as seaweed bath bags.

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