Sustaining Seaweed Farming in Malaysia

Abstract

This paper provides an insight to three main issues pertaining to seaweed farming and its industry in Malaysia. The reporting of the issues is made based on the several field trips made to the islands in Semporna. Apart from fieldwork visit, focus group method was also used in collecting the data. The findings suggested that price of seaweed is not fully determined by the semi refinery factories, but rather by the quality of post harvested seaweed. Although there is contestation over the marine areas for farming, but the immigrants are considered to be a set workforce that fills in the gap of absence of local community farming seaweed on the field. The finding also suggested that middlemen play a positive role in helping the farmers to obtain their monetary need and does not manipulate the farmers as may reported or observed in other seaweed farming countries. Malaysia has good potential seaweed farming industry provided with sufficient labourers and quality and practices standard being established in obtaining world recognition.