International Collaboration Aims to Safeguard Seaweed Industry from Climate Change

Malaysian and UK scientists unite to protect vital seaweed stocks

In a significant collaborative effort, leading seaweed scientists from Malaysia and the UK are convening with over 50 stakeholders this week to launch a new initiative: the Progressive Management Pathway for Improving Biosecurity in the Seaweed Industry (PMP/AB-Seaweed). This initiative is spearheaded by officials from the Department of Fisheries Sabah.

The Importance of Seaweed

Seaweeds play an essential role in the ocean ecosystem, sustaining more than six million farmers across 56 countries. However, the industry faces escalating challenges due to climate change, threatening both livelihoods and the marine environment.

Workshop Highlights

Over a 2.5-day workshop held in Sabah, Malaysia, the discussions concentrated on the primary commercially cultivated seaweed species in the region and the pressing challenges posed by pests and diseases. Participants explored pragmatic solutions aimed at unleashing the industry’s full potential.

In addition to addressing current challenges, the workshop emphasized the importance of protecting and restoring wild seaweed stocks in Malaysia—these stocks are crucial in developing climate-resilient cultivars for the future.

GlobalSeaweed-PROTECT Initiative

This initiative is part of the GlobalSeaweed-PROTECT program, a three-year project from February 2025 to February 2028. Funded by the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), the project aims to establish sustainable aquaculture systems in Southeast Asia.

The overarching goal is to bolster livelihoods for seaweed farming communities in the region by fostering a robust seaweed industry that is resilient to climate change, biosecure, and protective of wild seaweed biodiversity.

Insights from Experts

Project lead Prof. Juliet Brodie from the Natural History Museum in London stated, “Seaweeds are essential for the marine ecosystem, and over six million farmers rely on them for their livelihoods. The majority are in Asia, which represents more than 95% of global seaweed farming.”

She further noted, “Nevertheless, commercial seaweeds are increasingly susceptible to pest and disease outbreaks triggered by warming seawater temperatures. This jeopardizes an already delicate industry in an intensely competitive global market. We hope the PMP/AB-Seaweed initiative will provide a practical roadmap for enhancing resilience against climate change.”

Collaborators in the program include Prof. Phaik Eem Lim from the University of Malaya and Prof. Elizabeth Cottier-Cook of the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), along with contributions from the Department of Fisheries Sabah and the United Nations University Comparative Regional Integration Studies.

Prof. Cottier-Cook added, “This trip marked the first opportunity for the UK team to collaborate with a diversified group of Malaysian seaweed stakeholders, enabling us to co-create a PMP/AB-Seaweed tailored to enhance the resilience of an industry crucial for many in Malaysia.”

Prof. Phaik Eem Lim expressed optimism, stating, “This milestone represents the initial step toward delivering climate solutions for seaweed farmers by collaborating with organizations across Malaysia to craft a system that strengthens climate resilience and uplifts livelihoods.”