The “2022 Seaweed Investment Forum and Festival” (SIFFEST) in Surabaya, East Java, is expected to attract investment and help develop the national seaweed business, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said on Tuesday.
“From this event, it is also expected that there will be a link and match between the results of research and innovation with seaweed industry players, in particular, to maximize production utilization and explore the potential and opportunities for developing other economically valuable seaweeds,” he added.
He said that his ministry has five main programs based on the blue economy concept, which include expanding conservation areas with a target of developing 30 percent as closed conservation areas to produce oxygen, maintaining carbon sequestration function, and making conservation areas spawning grounds for fish.
The second program involves quota-based scalable fishing in six fishing zones. The third concerns the development of environmentally friendly cultivation in marine, coastal, and land areas.
Cultivation activities will be focused on superior fishery products such as shrimp, crab, lobster, seaweed, and fish with high economic value.
The fourth is protecting coastal areas and small islands from the risk of damage due to uncontrolled economic activities. And finally, the ‘Love of the Sea Month’ program, which is a part of Indonesia’s commitment to keeping the sea area clean and free of plastic waste.
Trenggono said that one of the efforts to support these priority programs, particularly the third one, has been optimizing the use of seaweeds as valuable assets of Indonesian waters and the development of national seaweed industrial areas.
With 6.4 million square kilometers of ocean area and a coastline spanning 108 thousand kilometers, Indonesia is ideal for the growth of various types of seaweeds.
According to Minister Trenggono, through the development of innovation and technology, seaweeds can be processed into various products, either food or non-food, with added value and benefits and with high economic value.
“Such as animal or fish feed, fertilizer, cosmetics, and also pharmaceuticals. Moreover, seaweed is also able to absorb carbon,” he added.
Source: Antara News