Challenges of seaweed farming
Integration of seaweeds into marine aquaculture farms in the WIO is,
nonetheless, not without its challenges (37). Despite of its benefits in
economic, environment and health benefits, seaweeds aquaculture faces
several obstacles that hinder its successful intergration in WIO.
According to Msuya et al. (2014) (38) some potential species were unable
to survive due to the problem of epiphytes coupled with ice-ice diseases
in WIO region. Among the affected seaweed species was Kappaphycuswhich is preferred in the foreign markets for its thicker gel, kappa
carrageenan as compared to weaker iota carrageenan from Eucheumaspecies (38). Moreover, Tobisson (2013) (39) reported low involvement of
men in seaweed farming, this is caused by the little gain from seaweed
farming process as compared to labour involved. Though there is high
demand for seaweed products in the international market, the price paid
to farmers is very low as compare to labour seaweed farming takes (39).
Therefore, for the sustainability of seaweed farming, funders need to
consider ways to improve the efficiency of seaweeds farming including
value addition for more income generation and increase pay for farmers.
Apart from financial issues, reports of women involved in seaweed
farming have health problems such as back pain and eye-related problem
due to tedious work performed in the seaweed farming process; headache;
allergies; injuries fatigue and respiratory problems are available (40).
This may be contributed by lack of knowledge which leads to farmers
participation without using protective equipment leading to
contamination from toxic chemical compounds from seaweed, epiphytic
bacteria or harmful algal bloom and absorbed heavy metals from seawater
as a result of long-term exposure (41). It is important for responsible
authorities and funders to incorporate seminars to all farmers and
educate them about the need for protection for safety. Also, conflicts
are arising among seaweed farmers and other users such as the tourism
industry. In such a way that seaweed farming is prohibited in areas with
more upmarket materials; accommodation on the north and south coast
island and outside some hotels on the pretext that was visually
unattractive (42). This may be caused by inadequate knowledge on
coexistence between tourism and seaweed farming by putting clear
boundaries and roads within the marine sites.
According to De la Torre-Castro and Lindström (2010) the process of
uprooting the seagrass in preparation of seaweed farm contributes to the
decreased fish population and coastal erosion (43). This is a challenge
which needs vigilant supervision. On the other hand, apart from decades
of its existence in WIO, seaweed farming suffers the use of
inappropriate or outdated technology. Most commonly traditional
off-bottom methods, using wooden stakes (pegs) planted in the sand and
ropes to which seaweed bunches are attached (44). However, this
technology is leading to low yield as it is labor-intensive and is
utilized in a shallow area where environmental variables change rapidly
and spoil productivity. Seaweed farming at low depth is more susceptible
to changes in sea surface temperature and salinity, especially during
the rainy season, resulting in disease outbreaks such as epiphyte
infestation, which suppresses growth; discoloration of the seaweed thali
that affects the quality and cause ice-ice (45). Indicating the need for
seaweed farmers, funding, and responsible authorities to find the means
to facilitate farmers to have modern farming equipment’s to increase
productivity and hence income. Moreover, the nature of technology
renders it especially sensitive to currents and storms, resulting in
tangled ropes, broken and lost products. In this case, maintenances of
the seaweed plots becomes physically hard and dangerous; requiring daily
attention and strain to farmers who are mainly women with low pay (45).
In addition, climate variation impacts the high profitable species in
WIO region, for example Eucheuma cottonii with higher
price because of its higher carrageenan content cannot thrive in shallow
waters, as a result, farmers opt to cultivate E.spinosum (45).
Apart from the challenges facing seaweed farmers in the WIO, there is
the need to investigate possibility to grow other native seaweeds
species, increase value addition to farmed species and use of modern
technologies for sustainability of ecosystem. Also, there is a need for
establishing product acceptability so as in the near future can be
accepted as food; creation of sustainable market and balance demand in
the local and international forum. Also, the need for utilization of
both economic value of the seaweeds produced and ecosystem services
offered by marine farming activities.