Striking a Balance: Wild Stock Protection and the Future of Our Seaweed Industries
Publication Date:
2023
Pages:
6
ISBN:
978-92-808-9143-0
Series Title:
UNU-CRIS Policy Brief
Publication Place:
Bruges
Publisher:
UNU Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies
Publication Language:
EN
Copyright Holder:
UNU Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies
Copyright Year:
2023
Policy Brief Type:
Abstract:
- Key challenges must be addressed to sustain seaweed stocks amid increasing demand from wild harvesting and cultivation industries.
- Seaweeds are highly productive, supporting diverse species and providing essential ecosystem services in coastal environments worldwide.
- Demand for seaweeds has surged, accounting for over 50% of global marine production, valued at USD 14.7 billion in 2019.
- Over-harvesting, climate change, invasive species, and pests have severely impacted wild seaweed stocks.
- Protection measures for wild seaweed stocks are inadequate, necessitating conservation policies, regulations, stakeholder awareness, and capacity building efforts.
- Conservation measures should align with the Sustainable Development Goals, with focus on rural communities and seaweed farmers as key protectors of wild stocks.
