Workers with diggers and dumper trucks descended onto the area adjacent to the Gunsite Café at 6am before transferring the weed onto a former military landing craft at the Harbour, ready to be dumped at sea.
A similar strategy has been used before. However, the vessel was previously loaded in St Aubin’s Bay – meaning that it could only be used during spring tides. But, under the new plans, the sea lettuce can be removed at almost any stage of the tide.
Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis said the new clearance method went well and that the department would continue working over the next few days.
The announcement follows calls from nearby business owners who say recent near-record-breaking temperatures have led to led to the worst conditions in the bay for ten years.
Deputy Lewis said: ‘It all went according to plan and it all went smoothly. They will be clearing 240 tonnes a day and we are doing our best to clear the beach.
‘We have had some extraordinary weather conditions which have led to the perfect greenhouse-like conditions for the sea lettuce to bloom.’
Bob Major, assistant manager from the Growth, Housing and Environment Department, added: ‘We have tried a number of different methods of clearing sea lettuce from the beach and we always consider any new ideas that are brought to us. The department wants to sort out this problem and safeguard Islanders, and this new trial will mean we are not reliant on the tides to do the work.’
A tractor-driven mechanical ‘surf rake’ is also being used as part of an ongoing trial to collect sand-and-stone-free sea lettuce to spread on farmland.
