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Seaweed farming in maritime areas of Bangladesh has immense potential to contribute to the economy through supplying raw materials for pharmaceutical and livestock feed industries, speakers said at a workshop on Sunday.
Seaweed also decreases carbon emissions and can be an excellent source of greenhouse gas reduction, the workshop was told.
USAID's Enhanced Coastal Fisheries in Bangladesh (ECOFISH II) of WorldFish Bangladesh hosted the workshop titled "Seaweed farming in maritime areas of Bangladesh: Potentials and Challenges."
It was organised in collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, Bangladesh in the Department of Fisheries' conference hall in Dhaka.
Mohammad Mokarrom Hossain, Chief of Party, USAID's ECOFISH II, WorldFish Bangladesh, explained the nutritional value of seaweed as well as its industrial potential.
"Commercial seaweed production can benefit people in various ways, including industrially, as a superfood, economically via producing raw materials of pharmaceutical and livestock feed industries," he said.
ECOFISH II facilitated dialogues by sharing the results and experiences of work on seaweed value chain in coastal and maritime areas, discussing current challenges, and exploring options for maximising the potential of seaweed farming.
Participants in the workshop included stakeholders actively involved in seaweed-related activities, such as representatives from DoF, BFRI, BORI, BRAC, universities, FAO, USAID, and stakeholders from the private sectors.
The workshop was chaired by Chris Price, Regional Director of WorldFish for South Asia.
The chief guest of the workshop was Anisur Rahman Talukder, Additional Director General, Department of Fisheries. The special guest was Syed Md. Alamgir, Principal Scientific Officer, Department of Fisheries.
Bangladesh is currently trailing behind in seaweed production despite having a natural richness of seaweed species, suitable climatic conditions, and a 710km long coastline with 25,000 square kilometres of coastal land.
The significance of seaweed gained momentum after the successful resolution of the sea border dispute with India in 2014, coinciding with the emergence of the term "blue economy."
Among various initiatives, the USAID-funded ECOFISH II implemented by WorldFish has been actively engaged in research and development endeavours to boost seaweed production.
This collaboration, which includes partners like Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Science University (CVASU), has led to development of floating seaweed farming technology in the marine ecosystems of Cox's Bazar.
This innovative technology holds the potential to enhance seaweed production, strengthen climate resilience in aquatic food systems, improve the livelihoods of coastal fisher communities, and contribute to the conservation of aquatic biodiversity. The project also has developed a habitat suitability map for different seaweed culture systems along the coastal and maritime territory of Bangladesh.
Md. Nahiduzzaman, Scientist, USAID's ECOFISH II, said "We have a large population that relies on sea fishing. Seaweed can provide men with new prospects while also expanding women's economic sources.
"Bangladesh has a natural seabed in the Bay of Bengal, which has the potential to lead to several accomplishments. Government organizations, research institutions, non-government, and public-private stakeholders need to collaborate and actively participate to ensure the sustainability of seaweed initiatives. "
ECOFISH II has also collaborated with Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) to develop ready-to-use (RTU) seaweed powder. This nutrient-rich product is suitable for incorporation into a wide array of food and feed items. This value addition offers promising opportunities for seaweed growers, opening doors to explore potential markets.