Current Potential of Seaweeds Cultivation in South Asian Coastal Regions Current Potential of Seaweeds Cultivation in South Asian Coastal Regions

Abstract

Seaweed plays an important role in marine ecosystem as a primary biomass producer and they provide food for marine organism and also they have significant contribution on marine carbon cycle. Other hand, it is an important source of food, colloids or gels and medically important elements. Several species of seaweed are commercially farmed in Asian nations. Coastal regions in South Asian countries have good potential for seaweed cultivation, which also offers as an alternative livelihood activity for poor coastal communities. At present seaweed cultivate about 50 countries for various uses such as food, medicine, fertilizer, industrial, etc. which seems that the quantities of seaweed being produced were too small to consider any regional cooperation in marketing and processing in coastal areas in South Asian countries. The main problems highlights in South Asian countries is knowledge gaps in coastal region peoples about potentials of seaweeds that need to be filled in order to form a clearer vision of seaweed farming development in the future and facilitate evidence based policy decision making and sector management. Within South Asian communities, seaweed wants to promote as edible source and have to be popularized as food and attempts must be made to develop culture technologies. The extraction of bioactive agents from seaweeds is a new line of work which has opened up further possibilities of utilizing this resource. Connected with this would be the better utilization of seaweeds for production of many important pharmacological products and by using as biological tool, the shrimp farm wastes can he transformed into wealth by bringing the twin benefits of both waste treatment and additional food production. Unlike other forms of aquaculture, seaweed farming wants minimum technological and capital requirements. In addition, grow out cycles are short, normally lasting less than two months. Given these unique characteristics, seaweed farming has generated substantial socio-economic benefits to marginalized coastal communities in developing countries, most of which have reduced access to alternative economic activities. In some communities, seaweed farming has emerged as the most relevant livelihood strategy. However, further development researches and incentive schemes for seaweed farming needs to overcome various barriers and constraints such as inclement weather conditions, disease outbreaks, uncertain and fluctuating market conditions, lack of value-added products, lack of value-adding activities, low incomes of seaweed farmers in some countries and occupational health hazards.