Michael Roleda

Forsker

(+47) 405 57 498
michael.roleda@nibio.no

Sted
Bodø

Besøksadresse
Torggården, Kudalsveien 6, NO-8027 Bodø

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Sammendrag

Carrageenophytes such as Eucheuma and Kappaphycus play a vital role in supporting coastal economies and supplying the global hydrocolloid industry, with Indonesia producing over 75% of the world’s supply. However, the unregulated use of chemical liquid fertilisers (CLF) in seaweed farming poses serious ecological and socio-economic threats. In Sikka Regency, Indonesia, CLF use contributed to a decade-long collapse in cultivation, worsened by destructive fishing practices. Although efforts to revive farming began in 2018, current monitoring data are limited and fragmented. Nutrient over-enrichment from fertilisers has been linked to harmful algal blooms, epiphyte overgrowth, and diseases like ice-ice. While countries like the Philippines have introduced standards such as the GAqP for seaweeds, Indonesia still lacks formal regulation on fertiliser use. Misleading scientific claims and social media endorsements further promote detrimental practices. This article highlights the urgent need for public awareness, science-based guidelines, and coordinated policy to safeguard sustainable seaweed aquaculture. Extension services, farmer cooperatives, and social media can raise awareness, but added resources are required for guidelines, stronger policies, and market incentives discouraging CLF use.