Awakening a Dormant Blue Economy Industry: Seaweed Mariculture in Belize

Island states and nations endowed with significant marine resources are currently exploring avenues to expand and diversify their economies. The vast expanse of their ocean space emerges as a promising frontier for substantial economic growth through niche areas within their marine domain that go beyond traditional activities. This concerted effort reflects a recognition of the untapped potential residing in their extensive maritime territories, presenting innovative possibilities for sustainable economic development and resilience in the face of evolving global challenges. The exploration of novel economic pathways within these oceanic areas not only promises growth but also underscores the importance of environmental stewardship, ensuring the responsible and sustainable utilization of marine resources to capitalize on current opportunities for the benefit of both present and future generations.

One such opportunity gaining prominence in recent years is the development of the aquaculture industry, particularly seaweed mariculture. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), extractive species (those that use the organic and inorganic material and by-products from other species for their own growth), represent a massive and diverse industry worldwide, worth $11.7 billion annually in farmed seaweed alone – a sleeping giant of the Blue Economy. Seaweed farming has experienced a staggering 1,000-fold increase between 1950 and 2019, driven by its wide range of applications, from consumption as a highly nutritious food to its use in medicines, cosmetics, organic fertilizers and even biofuels (see Figure 1).

In 2020 alone, the global production of algae, including seaweeds and microalgae, surpassed 35 million tonnes, outpacing the growth of any other aquaculture category (See Figure 2). Seaweed cultivation commonly employs raft or longline systems, often grown on the seafloor.

The advantages of seaweed mariculture

This industry has emerged as a highly promising resource owing to its remarkable adaptability, brief development period, and sustainable nature which presents a significant breakthrough in addressing prospective resource crises. However, its practice is limited to a few countries, compared to other aquatic species being farmed worldwide: although global production was contributed by 54 countries/territories, most of them being in Asia (See Figure 3).

Seaweed mariculture is garnering international recognition for its multi-faceted benefits:

1. Environmental sustainability by contributing to carbon sequestration during growth, provision of habitat for fish and shellfish while improving overall ecosystem health.
2. Consumption as a nutrient-dense food source, containing vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids. Some seaweeds are also rich in protein, offering a potential alternative to traditional protein sources.
3. Generation of organic fertilizers to reduce the dependence of synthetic and imported fertilizers.
4. Purification of water by absorbing excess nutrients and pollutants from the water.
5. New medical and pharmaceutical applications thanks to their antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties (e.g., extracts from seaweed, such as alginates and carrageenans, are used in various industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, due to their thickening and gelling properties)
6. Bioenergy production, such as biogas and biofuel, providing a renewable and potentially carbon-neutral energy source, which supports climate change mitigation efforts.

Belize takes the lead

Belize is positioning itself as a trailblazer in sustainable seaweed cultivation practices in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Small-scale producers, such as Turneffe Fishers, the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association, and the Placencia Cooperative, have been cultivating native red, edible seaweeds for over 40 years. They have been paving the way of the national industry and have established farms off the coast of Placencia and within the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. Despite the domestic market standing at a modest 5 tonnes in 2020, the international market for Belizean-produced seaweeds is a multi-billion-dollar industry with an annual growth rate of 9-10%.

Embracing a community-based approach, Belize has employed both floating and submergible systems for seaweed mariculture, offering a golden opportunity for the country to significantly increase production and tap into the export market reaping the three-tiered benefits that the farms provide: social, economic, and ecological. The government’s commitment is evident in The Belize Maritime Economy Plan of 2021 (BMEP), outlining strategies for product quality enhancement and international recognition. The Ministry of Blue Economy & Civil Aviation and the Belize Fisheries Department are at the forefront, overseeing the development, approval, and implementation of the National Mariculture Policy approved in 2022.

Leveraging farmed seaweed

In accordance with these goals to foster industry development and sustainability, the Inter-American Development Bank, through the Compete Caribbean Partnership Facility (CCPF), has been assisting the Government of Belize to develop sustainable farmed seaweed, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE). The project seeks to heighten the sector’s competitiveness, support employment of fishers and empower its women and other groups in fishing communities who are being displaced by climate change impacts.

The project is contributing to foster the development of Belize’s Seaweed Mariculture Industry by empowering communities through capacity building and knowledge exchange, and the development of a Mariculture Financing Scheme that is underway. This will support the national efforts to attract capital for the development of seaweed mariculture, maintain high product quality via certifications such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the Marine Stewardship Council (ASC-MSC), Friends of Sea, or USDA Certified Organic and ensure the effective use of channels to reach international markets.

The project is contributing to foster the development of Belize’s Seaweed Mariculture Industry by empowering communities through capacity building and knowledge exchange, and the development of a Mariculture Financing Scheme that is underway. This will support the national efforts to attract capital for the development of seaweed mariculture, maintain high product quality via certifications such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the Marine Stewardship Council (ASC-MSC), Friends of Sea, or USDA Certified Organic and ensure the effective use of channels to reach international markets.

Sustainable aquaculture development is pivotal in meeting the growing demand for marine foods. As Belize’s seaweed mariculture industry awakens, the creation of jobs in cultivation, processing, and research will contribute to blue economic development. Despite the current challenges such as costs associated with the equipment necessary for automation in harvesting and drying, and the relative lack of investments and specific regulatory frameworks in certain countries, this burgeoning industry has the potential to boost local incomes, ensure food security, and enhance environmental health by alleviating pressure on wild seaweed and fish stocks.

In conclusion, the emerging seaweed industry not only addresses environmental, nutritional, and economic challenges but also positions itself as a crucial player in the sustainable future of agriculture, energy, and industry for Belize and other nations in the LAC region. As research and development in this field progress, the multifaceted benefits of seaweed underscore its significance in shaping a sustainable future.