In response to these challenges, Prof. Dr. Esti H. Hardi, a distinguished professor at the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences at Mulawarman University, initiated the Kedaireka program. This collaborative effort with the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) aims to introduce “smart Silvofishery” in the Delta Mahakam area, an eco-friendly approach to aquaculture.

Smart silvofishery is a pioneering aquaculture management method that prioritizes mangrove ecosystem restoration while maximizing pond productivity and economic value. This method involves polyculture, cultivating various species like shrimp, fish, crabs, and seaweed concurrently in one pond over a specific period. Mangroves are strategically planted within the ponds, offering a holistic approach to environmental sustainability and economic viability.

Research findings reveal that smart Silvofishery yields boast higher amino acid, fatty acid, and protein content compared to conventional aquaculture methods. The Salo Sumbala group in Muara Badak Ilir Village, Samarinda, East Kalimantan, serves as a successful example of a community embracing smart Silvofishery. Initially met with skepticism, the group is now actively involved in educating others about the benefits and techniques of this innovative approach.

Ramlan, the group’s chairman, shared his transformative experience with the Silvofishery system in his pond. “I noticed pond embankment erosion due to tidal fluctuations. Planting mangroves along the embankment prevented erosion. After smart Silvofishery training, I replanted mangroves in the pond, resulting in increased harvests in quantity and fish quality. The fish were fresher, and after sharing my success, other farmers adopted the system,” explained Ramlan.

Despite initial skepticism, Ramlan’s persistence led to a ripple effect, with local farmers adopting smart Silvofishery practices. This newfound approach enables communities like Muara Badak Ilir Village to independently manage their pond areas, significantly increasing income. The harvested fish are processed into valuable products like boneless fish and traditional East Kalimantan crackers, creating new market opportunities.

Feri, a local youth in Muara Badak Ilir Village, highlighted the positive impact of the smart Silvofishery system on the community. “The Fishermen’s Children Association was formed to improve aquaculture outcomes through mangrove rehabilitation. The community now recognizes the benefits of mangroves in ponds, leading to increased harvests and a growing sense of community awareness,” shared Feri.

The Smart Silvofishery model not only addresses environmental concerns but also empowers coastal communities, offering a sustainable and economically viable solution for the future of aquaculture in Indonesia.

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Therefore, a team of PML scientists is now attempting to determine the potential role of offshore seaweed cultivation in future carbon capture and storage. The project is part of a unique €1.5 million initiative financed by Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund.

North Sea Farm 1 is a first-of-its-kind offshore seaweed farm constructed in collaboration with North Sea Farmers (NSF), a worldwide non-profit seaweed farming membership organization. North Sea Farm 1 is situated among offshore wind turbines. This Farm could serve as a model for how similar farms could be employed for future large-scale carbon collection.

Carbon sequestration as a co-benefit of Seaweed (macroalgae) aquaculture has recently attracted a great deal of interest in academic, government, and business settings around the world. This has been driven by the increasing global interest in climate change mitigation.

For “blue carbon” ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes, carbon is stored in mud or silt in the local area; as the plants develop and die, their decaying matter is absorbed into the soil below.

From 2000 to 2018, seaweed aquaculture expanded by 6.2% each year, and there are a number of new and rising markets for seaweed products. Given the immensity of the open ocean, if an efficient method of offshore seaweed farming could be devised and scaled out, it might theoretically have a significant impact on carbon sequestration and fight climate change worldwide.

Dr. Ana Queirós, a senior marine and climate change ecologist at PML who is directing the research, stated in a press release, “I am very enthusiastic about this project and the knowledge gap it aims to fill. The carbon dioxide removal capacity of the seaweed sector remains untested, and the goal is to determine how Seaweed may be employed for long-term carbon sequestration. There is much interest in the expansion of the sector, but we need evidence to assess the true blue carbon value of these habitats.”

The director of EU sustainability, Zak Watts, stated, “Seaweed could be a crucial tool for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, although it is currently cultivated on a relatively small scale in Europe. We are thrilled to finance this initiative in order to gain a deeper knowledge of its potential to combat climate change.”

Quantifying the Benefits

It has been estimated that around 11% of the entire ocean area, or 48 million km², is suitable for seaweed aquaculture. Consequently, a potential maximum annual sequestration from seaweed farming would be 72 billion tons, which exceeds global annual emissions.

Analyzing the world’s coastal habitats, some scientists determined that around 48 million square kilometers of coastline would be ideal for the production of Seaweed on a global scale. If we cultivated even a tiny portion of this area (273 square kilometers, or 0.001%), the growing Seaweed would absorb enough carbon to balance the emissions of the whole aquaculture industry.

Moreover, it is estimated that seaweed stores around 175 million tons of carbon per year, which is equivalent to 10 percent of the global emissions from all automobiles. This suggested to many scientists that Seaweed may join blue carbon storage in mangroves and wetlands as a crucial tool in the fight against climate change.

Uncertainty and Risks

There is no unmixed good in science, and major overlooked issues related to seaweed farming has identified too. Such as Ecological viability; Technological viability; Economic viability; Co-benefits and risks; and Governance and societal factors.

Moreover, seaweed farming may add up extra carbon to the atmosphere. Seaweed provides additional food for filter-feeding organisms, such as sea squirts and shellfish that live amid Seaweed.

As a result of consuming this additional food source, these organisms exhale additional carbon dioxide. Individually, the amount is quite small. However, on an ecosystem scale, their abundance and capacity to filter vast quantities of water make this amount significantly large. This may add up to extra CO₂ in the air.

How may Bangladesh act?

Although approximately 80% of the world’s Seaweed is produced in Asia, Bangladesh only produces 600 tons annually. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, Bangladesh has immense potential for seaweed production since its beaches, estuaries, and mangroves make it a suitable environment for the plant. The country has approximately 700 kilometers of coastline and 25,000 square kilometers of the coastal territory.

However, Bangladesh has roughly 8500 km2 of exploitable coastal land (5 m depth) and is home to 335 different varieties of wild seaweed populations. Some of these are cultivated on a limited scale due to environmental, technological, and socioeconomic constraints.

Approximately 32 species of Seaweed are most prevalent along the coast of Bangladesh, of which 14 are commercially viable, but only four are cultivated but on a modest scale.

In Bangladesh, around 300 households are engaged in seaweed farming at Nuniarchara, Inany Beach, and Reju Khal in Cox’s Bazar, generating 390 tons with potential applications in the food, cosmetic, feed, and medicines industries.

Bangladesh is, however, mostly concerned with the usage of raw Seaweed in the food, cosmetic, and feed industries. Products from Seaweed include desserts, noodles, salad, drinks and smoothies, sunscreen, and other cosmetics.

To fight climate change, Bangladesh needs large-scale afforestation of Seaweed along its coastal areas. If policymakers take Seaweed seriously, future initiatives to offset carbon may include a totally different type of forest planting in Bangladesh.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

The post The enormous potentiality of seaweed afforestation to fight climate change appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

This project is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It has started in 2019 and is set to end in 2024. The project site is located on the Southeast coast (Khuruskhul, Cox’s Bazaar; Amadoia khuta, Moheshkhali; Shadrang, Teknaf) of Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh.

It aimed to improve the livelihood of the locals through a potential seaweed species named Gracilaria tenuistipitata.  Gracilaria is an important seaweed species which is tolerant to a wide range of environments and is an economically important raw material for agar production. Seaweeds of the family Gracilariaceae (Rhodophyceae) are well known for the production of agar-agar, protein, fiber, fatty acids, vitamins, macro and trace elements as well as important bio-active compounds.

Cultivation Period
Since the 1970s, this species has been cultivated in many countries using long-line ropes in a submerged free-floating system. Although Gracilaria is abundant year-round, it is less common during the warm months of March to May and most abundant after the monsoon season.

October to March is considered the ideal growing season for Gracilaria in Bangladesh. This year, however, cultivation was delayed as a result of cyclone Sitrang since the water became turbid. Consequently, the farmers lost four cycles or harvests from the season.

Methods of seaweed production vary widely depending on aspects such as cultivation facilities (in the open sea or on land), productivity and availability of species, dimensional properties, irradiance, temperature conditions, nutrient enrichment, water flow and wave action.

The success of seaweed farming is dependent not only on the environmental compatibility of the area but also to a significant degree on a variety of other factors that affect the production performance of seaweed. Gracilaria seaweed has a high environmental parameter tolerance. It can handle a broad range of salinity, from 10 to 40 ppt (parts per trillion), but grows best in the area of 25 to 33 ppt. Gracilaria may also tolerate temperature ranges between 10 and 35°C, however, its ideal range is between 24 and 30°C. Completely murky water is not suitable for its cultivation; instead, clearer water is necessary.

Culture Method
Seed collecting is a key phase in the Gracilaria cultivation process. Seed collection is dependent on the availability of natural sources during the season. Although setting up a nursery to lessen reliance on natural sources is suggested, seedstock is necessary for successful commercial agriculture. The seeding interval is a vital aspect of seaweed cultivation.

A traditional method for cultivating seaweed, known as seed-rope, involves growing macroalgae seedlings on the rope in regulated environmental conditions. This approach is highly efficient in seaweed farming because when it grows on ropes has lower production costs due to the shorter time required in the hatchery and because cultivation may be managed.

The rope-type cultivation method has a significant impact on the yield performance of Gracilaria seaweed. The seed of Gracilaria is stuck in the strands of the ropes which are attached in parallel position in the floating bamboo structure. A structure of 12ft x 30ft bed is made with Bamboo for the culture. Empty plastic drums are used as floats. This type of farming is also widely practiced in Indonesia, Brazil and many other seaweed growing nations.

The seaweed is attached to 1 m long, 6 mm in diameter nylon strands. The Gracilaria ropes are positioned between 0.2 and 0.3 meters below the water’s surface and each end is fastened to bamboo poles. Net bags are suspended in the water at a depth of 0.3 meters from the surface of the water to the bottom of the net bag and their corners are fastened to bamboo poles. The net bags are intended to prevent entering of herbivorous fish.

Gracilaria is harvested once it reaches 30 cm in length. Every month it is harvested 2 times which means every 15 days, the harvest takes place. Last year the production of this project was about 20 tons. This year the production can be calculated by the end of March.

Commercial Value
Raw Gracilaria seaweed price is sold at 40-60 Tk per kg depending on the season. However, the dried price is sold depending on the quality at 400-500 Tk. A total of 7 kilograms of raw seaweed can make 1KG dry. Gracilaria is farmed mainly for the Agar collection. The agar extraction ratio is a maximum of 25% from it. This means 4 KG of Gracilaria may provide 1 KG of Agar. However, Agar has high demand and the price is ranging 3000-8000 Tk depending on the quality. Agar is one of the most extensively used seaweed gums in the world. It is a polysaccharide produced from seaweed. Agar is widely employed in the manufacturing of jams and jellies, cosmetics, the pharmaceutical industry and microbiological research. Agar is utilized in the cosmetic sector as a stabilizer for emulsions and as a component of skin creams, ointments, lotions, etc.

Creating Entrepreneurs and Market
The project has created employment scope for the local community. Total 154 people were engaged in Gracilaria cultivation in 2019, the first year of the initiative. Then, in 2020, 2021, and 2022, 150, 200, and 100 individuals, respectively, joined. Under the guidance of project managers and scientists, they cultivate, harvest and market seaweeds.

Now, a new strategy for the project has evolved. The strategy calls for the addition of 15 entrepreneurs, 5 farmers and 5 marketers who will focus on the creation, manufacture and distribution of seaweed-based products.

In addition, four persons work on this initiative as “points of contact,” i.e., when the farmers or no one else is around, they oversee the project. Essentially, these men are chosen from local farmers and compensated with 1,500 TK each month to oversee the project.

Prospects around the Globe
In 2015, the global output of farmed Gracilaria was 3.9 million tons, ranking third after Eucheuma and Japanese kelp. In 2015, China ranked first in Gracilaria production with a harvest of 2.7 million tons. There are 100 known species of Gracilaria in the world.

Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the Taiwan Province of China are the primary regional producers and customers of food-grade agar at present. In Thailand and Vietnam, fresh G. tenuistipitata is usually used as a vegetable. In both fresh and dried forms, it is used in various delicious dishes. Besides, seaweed has good demand among locals in neighboring Myanmar as well.

Prospect in Bangladesh
About 32 species of seaweed are widespread along the coast of Bangladesh, of which 14 are commercially viable but only four are cultivated, albeit on a modest scale. It has been found that, among these seaweeds, the species Gracilaria (Rhodophyta) is the most preferable choice for intensive culture due to its potential to achieve high yields and generate economically valuable products.

Along its 710 km coastline facing the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh is impacted by a rising population and periodic tidal bore. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, Bangladesh has immense potential for Gracilaria production since its beaches, estuaries and mangroves make it a suitable habitat for the plant. The country has approximately 700 kilometers of coastline and 25,000 square kilometers of the coastal area.

Additionally, the coastal regions of Bangladesh are regularly inundated with saline water. Once crop fields are flooded with salt water, it takes around seven years to produce land crops. Therefore, Gracilaria might be a feasible choice for coastal people to cultivate on these inundated grounds. Gracilaria may also be utilized to produce a variety of delicious dishes.

In fact, Rakhaine and Chakma tribes consume the G. tenuistipitata that grows on the sand flat of Nuniachara adjacent to Moshekhali Channel in Cox’s Bazar. The nutritional assessment of this type of seaweed cultivated on a wide scale showed promising results.

It is also expected that boosting seaweed farming will aid in reducing pressure on marine fishing, as considerable manpower may be diverted from fishing to (seaweed) cultivation. It will help reducing use of fossil fuel and emission of carbon in atmosphere. Moreover, seaweed absorbs and stores significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Furthermore, Bangladesh imports the majority of its Agar powder from India, China, and Japan, making it the world’s top importer of Agar powder. Therefore, the cultivation of Gracilaria may assist Bangladesh in being self-sufficient in Agar production and save foreign currency.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Department of Oceanography, NSTU

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There are 133 species of seaweed in Bangladesh, and eight of them are commercially significant. In addition to its tremendous medical and gastronomic value, seaweed has significant export potential as a seafood product, which may generate large foreign exchange. Moreover, seaweed is used in the bio-chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic sectors.

Local residents row ropes with bamboo in the enclosure of saltwater fish gher at the bank of the Shakbaria river. They tied seaweed seeds to that rope and submerged it under brackish water.  As the algae lack roots, seaweeds float on the water’s surface, thanks to their pneumatocysts. Once they find anything that will serve as a substrate, they attach themselves there. For the ropes, they are able to float in a certain area while remaining stationary. Basanti Munda, a local farmer said, “this algae grows by taking nutrients directly from the water. They have no roots, stems, leaves, flowers or fruits. The cost of cultivation is only the purchase of bamboo and rope.”

Similar bamboo tops float on the water at Ghulam Mustafa’s fish cultivating enclosure, located a short distance from Tepakhali in Koira Upazila. Under one foot of water, a 25-meter-long, robust rope is drawn tight with bamboo.  On this rope, 15 cm long chunks of algae are hung. This is how the dreams of coir farmers are swinging under the salt water.

Farmer Golam Mustafa said, “Last year, the local exporters advised us to cultivate these algae. We are just putting them on the ropes as they suggested. These algae grow spontaneously without any care. They are eaten by ducks, fish and we heard people eat them too! Those who advised us to cultivate them said they will buy from us again.” Insecticides, fertilizer and fresh water are not required for seaweed production. This ensures that fishermen will always be able to make a living, even if they are unable to fish due to environmental or safety issues.

Farooq Hossain, Senior Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute said that “It has been found that seaweed is tolerant to the salinity level of Koyra upazila. Koyra is more suitable for seaweed farming than Cox’s Bazar. So seaweed cultivation can be done easily here. Apart from this, success is achieved only by tying a rope with bamboo in the water and tying algae seeds to it, and submerging it without any maintenance.

Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute chief scientific officer Harunor Rashid said, “seaweed is a delicious food that was unknown to many people in Koyra. We have trained 60 farmers in Koyra to produce potentially exportable and highly nutritious seaweed. Its seeds are collected from St. Martins have also been supplied to the farmers. Seaweed has a good market in the country and abroad. If we can capture the desired market, it is hoped that algae will revolutionize the economy of Bangladesh,” he added.

According to GM Insights, the worldwide market value of seaweed might approach to $85 billion by 2026. Although over 80% of the world’s seaweed production comes from Asia. By FAO stats from 2019, top 5 countries who are producing the most seaweeds are China, Indonesia, Korea, Philippines, Japan. Bangladesh seaweed production is estimated somewhere around 600 tons yearly.

Therefore, Bangladesh’s respective authorities should encourage the cultivation and use of seaweeds. Improving harvesting methods, creating artificial habitats and seeding appropriate coastal regions are necessary to boost the output. Research should be conducted to develop the technologies necessary for the production of various economically significant seed stocks and their enhancement. In addition, comprehensive studies must be carried out to identify ideal locations for seaweed cultivation on a wide scale.

Jaber Bin Abdul Bari
Dept. of Fisheries and Marine Science, NSTU

The post Seaweed farming gains momentum in Koyra appeared first on Seafood Network BD.

Seaweed fertilizer used to be in operation by farmers a long time ago. Even before the use of commercial fertilizer came into action. Morganics is now trying to bring back the good old days of seaweed fertilizer. And replace the commercial direct chemical based fertilizers with seaweed fertilizer in Kenya.

This natural seaweed fertilizer is more powerful than conventional commercial fertilizers in terms of providing necessary nutrients for plants’ stronger and healthier growth. As a matter of fact, the stronger and healthier a plant grows, the more resistance it can create against the natural stresses (i.e salinity, insects, drought or diseases). It has no negative impacts on the soil unlike commercial fertilizers.

According to Morganics seaweed based fertilizer’s analytical report, it contains over 70 different minerals. It’s a great source of cytokines and auxins. These two hormones are most essential for the growth of plants. It also contains vitamins, natural chelating agents, and amino acids.

The gentle N-P-K values could imply its natural, whole-food, broad spectrum qualities, fundamental to the soil food web. This is achieved by the improvement of soil tilth, that regulates cell division and cell wall formation, to the increase in photosynthesis and chlorophyll production, improving root and shoot growth, and delaying senescence (when leaves fall and lose their color)

Morganics makes seaweed fertilizers in liquid form and its making process is very simple. The name “Seaweed fertilizer” clearly states its identity. In the making of this natural fertilizer, nothing but seaweed and water is used.

Now, how this fertilizer is made, you can be very amazed with this simple process. Collect the seaweed (especially kelp). Rinse the saltwater from it, keep it in the water and let it decompose or ferment in there. Keep it there until it is broken down into liquid form or slurry. That is it, you have got yourself the seaweed fertilizer!

This fertilizer has natural ingredients that help plants grow faster. That’s why it’s termed as biofertilizers or biostimulants. People are opting out from commercial fertilizer to biofertilizer for its environmental benefits and long term conservation of natural resources.

In Bangladesh, seaweed farms now exist in the coastal areas. Entrepreneurs may explore this sector for feasibility and turn into a business. It will contribute to the value chain of our local seaweed industry and make it sustainable for all the stakeholders.

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Seaweed is abundant in coastal areas. Wild seaweed production decreased due to excessive harvesting and unpredictable weather in the past years.  This is why globally cultivated seaweed production is on the rise. And it has grown to a significant proportion that the number is around 50% by the last decade.
The Rising popularity of seaweed consumption indicates this industry has a huge market in the global arena which is currently estimated to be 10 to 12 million tones (frozen weight) annually.

Considering the rising popularity of seaweed, the cultivation of this sea plant is expected to continue to grow, indicating it could become important in stabilising food security. The global commercial seaweed market has been forecasted by the experts to increase to $24.92 billion in 2028 from its 2021 value of $15.01 billion.

Seaweed in Bangladesh:

Experimental cultivation of two species of seaweed first began at Saint Martin’s Island in 2010. Since 2016, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) has been cultivating seaweed in the coastal areas of Cox’s Bazar.

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