Latest news with #Gracilaria
Observer
08-07-2025
- Science
- Observer
Seaweed farming: A green opportunity for Oman's blue economy
As nations worldwide grapple with the twin challenges of feeding a growing population and confronting climate change, seaweed is emerging as a quiet but powerful ally in the quest for sustainable development. In Oman, researchers and policymakers are turning their attention to the rich potential of seaweed cultivation as a tool for environmental resilience, food security, and economic diversification. With over 3,100 kilometres of coastline bordering the Arabian Sea and the Sea of Oman, the Sultanate of Oman is uniquely positioned to develop a thriving seaweed industry. Seaweeds—marine macroalgae known for their rapid growth and diverse applications—are used globally in food, animal feed, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and as bioactive compounds in the bioeconomy. They also play a vital role in environmental management, absorbing carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from seawater, thus helping combat climate change and marine pollution. Globally, seaweed farming is dominated by Asia, with China accounting for nearly 59% of global production, followed by Indonesia (29%), South Korea (5%), and the Philippines (4%), according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO, 2022). While Oman is yet to enter the global seaweed market in a significant way, its waters host more than 400 species of benthic marine algae. An updated checklist by Wynne (2018) identified 238 red algae, 89 green algae, and 75 brown algae species along Oman's northern Arabian Sea coast. Notable among these are Hypnea and Gracilaria—red algae valued for their production of agar and carrageenan, substances widely used in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic products. Recent extraction studies have shown that intensified alkaline processes can yield carrageenan at rates nearly three times higher than traditional methods, suggesting untapped industrial potential. However, despite the rich biodiversity, Oman's macroalgal resources remain underexplored. Studies by Jupp (2002) revealed extensive seaweed presence in the upwelling zones along the Arabian Sea coast, while the Sea of Oman was found to be relatively barren due to high salinity, elevated temperatures, and limited nutrient availability. This disparity underscores the need for targeted research to assess the viability of large-scale seaweed farming in Oman's varied marine environments. Seaweed cultivation is now being discussed as a key component in Oman's strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, a central pillar of Oman Vision 2040. A 2023 report by The Nature Conservancy and Bain & Company identified seaweed farming as a nature-based solution with strong potential for carbon sequestration. By absorbing CO₂ and depositing organic material into marine sediments, seaweed farms could help offset emissions while improving ocean health by mitigating eutrophication and deoxygenation. Yet challenges remain. Experts emphasise the urgent need for comprehensive studies to map seaweed resources, identify the most suitable species for cultivation, and assess both environmental and economic impacts. Critical to this effort is understanding the market demand for seaweed-based products and determining how best to integrate seaweed farming into Oman's coastal communities without disrupting existing ecosystems or livelihoods. If done strategically, seaweed farming could offer Oman a win-win opportunity: a tool for environmental restoration and climate mitigation, and a new pillar of the blue economy. As the world looks toward scalable, nature-based solutions, Oman's extensive coastline and ecological diversity could position it as a regional leader in sustainable aquaculture. Dr Khalid al Subhi The writer is a researcher at the Center of Excellence in Marine Biotechnology, Sultan Qaboos University
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Seaweed farming: A path to empowering women
Seaweed and women's empowerment may not sound like an obvious fit, but that is the quiet change taking place along the coastline. India's seaweed industry is largely untapped, contributing only 0.003% in global trade value. However, the World Bank has identified 10 emerging seaweed markets/applications with a potential of $11.8 billion by 2030. Seaweed lies at the intersection of India's green economy, coastal development, and bio-economy goals. India is home to over 844 seaweed species but only 60 are commercially cultivated. A paltry three species are currently farmed at scale in regions such as Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aims to boost seaweed production to 1.12 million tonnes in five years. Women can play a big role in this expansion. From female seaweed diving squads harvesting the plants, to women driving innovation in labs, supply chains, and boardrooms, seaweed is emerging as an industry that's seeing women play a key role at every rung of the ladder. The seaweed industry has emerged as an alternative employment for fisherfolk — nearly 60% of India's seaweed workforce comprise women. Women are not just the frontline gatherers and farmers, but are also producers of value. From innovative food businesses creating high-protein seaweed crackers, to award-winning biodegradable plastic, full-stack tech solutions, to a legacy company cultivating important species of seaweed — the industry is replete with examples of women with big entrepreneurial ambitions. Their efforts are not only creating new business models, but also reimagining how seaweed — that can also serve as an effective carbon sequestration tool — can drive innovative business models, coastal livelihood opportunities, and economic growth. A Council for Environment, Energy and Water (CEEW) study on the green economy points out how, thanks to a short cultivation period, seaweed farming can improve livelihood opportunities for fishing communities, especially women. For instance, it found that in Chilika Lake, Odisha, approximately 100 trained individuals, particularly women, cultivate Gracilaria, a type of seaweed indigenous to the area near Balugaon. The seaweed matures for harvesting within just 45 days of planting, enabling cultivators to earn up to ₹10,000 per month from a 10-acre underwater area. Abhishek Jain, director, Green Economy and Impact Innovations, CEEW, says, 'Seaweed cultivation offers a climate-neutral, resource-efficient path to strengthen India's Green Economy. One of our study estimates Odisha alone could generate over one lakh sustainable jobs and ₹800 crore in market value for the industry by 2030.' Women entrepreneurs in the sector are leading a wide range of innovations — from ethical harvesting to producing edible seaweed products, to manufacturing hydrocolloids for food and pharma industries, and even developing seaweed-based biodegradable packaging materials. Gabriella D'Cruz, marine conservationist and founder of Good Ocean says, 'Seaweed harvesting and farming is generally carried by women from coastal communities over men primarily due to its intertidal nature. Women generally prefer to farm or harvest seaweed closer to their homes while men go out to sea on boats.' Devleena Bhattacharya, founder, ClimaCrew, says her company is building a full stack tech platform to scale up cultivation, processing, and a marketplace for seaweed in India, to connect seaweed suppliers and buyers using data, technology, and social science — kind of a digital backbone for the industry. Be it Atmanirbhar Bharat, Nari Shakti, Viksit Bharat, or climate action, this industry is aligned with several national goals. All it needs is better visibility. The views expressed are personal.
