Sea weed

The following species are fairly common on this beach:

Knotted Wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) - a brown alga. The blades are narrow with no midrib and contain air bladders for floatation. Rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and is often collected and spread over gardens as a fertilizer. Also a source of algin like many other brown algae. Algin is a gelling compound that is used in many foods such as dairy products and salad dressings.

Rockweed (Fucus vesiculosus) - Another brown alga with blades that are flat with a prominent midrib and paired air bladders. Also a source of algin.

Sea Lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - a green alga with broad flat blades that are bright green in colour. It actually looks like lettuce leaves but much thinner. It is edible and may be used in soups and salads. It is eaten by many organisms including various snails and fish.