Home ›› 18 Apr 2023 ›› Editorial
After a long 50 years of research on seaweed, there has been some success recently. Scientists are envisioning the dream of cultivating seaweed commercially in the country. Not only will this aid in alleviating the poverty of the destitute people in the coastal areas, but seaweed cultivation will also meet the local needs and be exported to foreign countries. The experimental cultivation of seaweed has caught eyes around the globe. Realising its potential, Japan and the Netherlands have expressed their desire to work on this project as well. This will add to our economy a whole different dimension.
Seaweed is a type of aquatic algae, which is relatively similar to a vegetable. This green plant-like species grows on any substance, including rocks, under the ocean, and even on trees. It has a high nutritional value.
Our ex national professor, Dr. Nurul Islam, was heavily interested in seaweed and had done extensive research on it. He worked on it for six consecutive years, from 1972 to 1978. He mainly researched the origin of seaweed, where it grows, and the different species in our country. He sketched every piece of information he discovered during this period and even took some photographs of the research evidence. Till his death in 2000, he kept working on the research and findings about seaweed.
After he passed away, one of his students and a professor at the University of Dhaka, Dr. Abdul Aziz, did research on where seaweed can be found. After this, Dr. Mohammed Zafor, a professor at the University of Chittagong, worked on two experimental cultivation systems for two varieties of seaweed.
In 2012, Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) researched where these varieties can be found. Following this, Abu Syed Mohammed Sharif, a student at the University of Chittagong, developed an interest in seaweeds while majoring in marine science. As a student, he always wanted to research seaweed. He thought that agar and carrageenan were biochemical compositions. He reached the conclusion that if these could be extracted from the plants from which they can be found, they would play a vital role in the country’s economy. Even in the industry, it has huge potential. He tried to research and work on this in various ways. Eventually, he got an opportunity. In 2018, he joined the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute (BORI). He received comprehensive support from the environment at the institute, the lab, and many other facilities there. Currently, he is working as a senior scientific officer at the institute.
In 2018 and 2019, he worked on sample collection at the field level. He mainly followed and carried on from the works done by Nurul Islam. In this way, he found out that it is difficult to identify which plants contain seaweed. These plants grow under water, on land, and everywhere else. In 2019, he finds a sample. Between 2020 and 2021, he discovered various types of plant species. Then he put those plants through trials in his lab. For each species in the trial, 63 tests need to be done, and the time taken for each test is about 2 and a half days. After all the testing, he experimentally cultivated these seaweed species in Reju Khal and another in a pond of Reju Khal, an area near his office. However, seaweed should be cultivated in tidal areas.
After the experimental trials, JICA heard about the matter and showed interest in it. Seaweed can be cultivated in various locations, ranging from Moheshkhali to Kutubdia. JICA chose a place near Moheshkhali Channel by the name of Mudirchara and Bakhkhali’s, Nunarchara, and signed a contract with BORI for seaweed cultivation. These four species were cultivated here: Hypnea, Gracilaria, Gracilariopsis, and Enteromorpha. This year, there have been about 10 trials done so far.
Generally, seaweed can be cultivated in coastal areas from November to April. An underwater field that is 5 meters by 5 meters and is surrounded by barriers. The seaweed is cultivated in this field; this should be done in a place where tidewater can enter. It is either rope or net where the seaweed is kept, which should be fitted on a bamboo raft on the water. The seaweed increases in size after 15–20 days, and it can be harvested after 15 days. After that, this process goes on for another 15 days. Cultivating seaweed in a place like that, people can earn up to Tk 3,000 if the seaweed is raw. But if it is dried, then the people can earn up to Tk 6000 to Tk 8000.
Some problems are faced while cultivating seaweed. Among these problems, a major one that stands out from the rest is seed production. Seaweed is being cultivated right after it is collected from nature. Collecting the seaweed from nature is a hassle, and until now there has been no system or hatcheries for the seaweed production. Currently, BORI is working on the development of hatcheries. The farmers are taught how seaweed can be cultivated. The government is currently working on the production of agar and carrageenan in an industrial level.
Since the very beginning, the tribal people of Bakhkhali in Nunarchara have used to eat seaweed. It has a lot of nutritional benefits. Seaweed can be consumed either raw or dried. It contains protein, carbohydrates, and high fiber. The fiber content is crucially valuable for diabetic patients. Seaweed is generally used in recipes for salads, vegetables, and soups. Carrageenan is famously known for increasing the thickness of the soup. Agar powder is used in different types of food. It is more often used as a food ingredient to enhance the taste of food than for direct consumption.
Today, seaweed is valued at 26 billion USD in the global market. The industrial value of seaweed is massive. Our country imports huge amounts of seaweed from foreign countries. If we can produce seaweed here, imports would not be necessary, and we could export instead. Seaweed is used in many kinds of medicine, especially when preparing ointments. It is also used in making skincare products for external use, such as creams, gels, and pastes etc. It can also be used in foods and beverages such as cakes, soft drinks, ice cream, etc. This is also used in frozen fruits. While exporting or importing fruits, it is used in the cover that is put over the fruit to keep them aseptic and fresh. Seaweed is also used in cosmetics and toiletries such as shampoo, bodywash, soap, etc. Moreover, it is even used in tablet coatings. In microbiological studies, it is used for culturing. After its usage in industry, the waste can later be used as fertilizer. Seaweed is used in everything, so none of it goes to waste.
Sharif said, "While working on this, we were provided whatever equipment and assistance whenever we needed by the Director General of BORI. The Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman is interested in this matter and has visited the fields. The governments of Japan and the Netherlands are willing to invest in this sector as well. The Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh is dealing with this matter. We are hoping that we can achieve greater things in the future." He also stated, "Poor people living in coastal areas could quite definitely fulfill their livelihood through cultivating seaweed. This might play an important role in solving poverty problems in their area.’’
When it comes to seaweed, involved students and teachers who study subjects related to seaweed have worked on different issues at different times. Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Chittagong University, Khulna University, etc. have worked on this matter. Scientists say that more research needs to be done because seaweed has even more variants. The government has been sufficiently cooperative regarding this matter. In the future, if progress on seaweed cultivation persists, the country will benefit immensely.
The writer is a researcher and columnist. She can be contacted at shanu.mostafiz@gmail.com
