Seaweed Farming to Boost Coastal Economies in NTT
- 28 Jul 2026 16:58 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Marine and Fisheries Agency is promoting superior seedlings and Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) to improve seaweed productivity and support coastal livelihoods.
- Seaweed production peaked at 2.16 million tons in 2020, declined after Cyclone Seroja in 2021–2022, recovered to 1.56 million tons in 2023, and reached about 1.25 million tons in 2025 based on preliminary data.
RRI.CO.ID, Kupang - Beyond expanding cultivation areas, the East Tenggara Timur (NTT) Marine and Fisheries Agency is actively modernizing seaweed farming. The agency promotes the use of superior seedlings and Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) guidance to support the economic stability of coastal communities.
Acting Head of the NTT Provincial Marine and Fisheries Agency, Stefania Tunga Boro, conveyed that of the total 54,000 hectares of available land, only around 6,000 to 8,000 hectares, or 15 percent, have been utilized.
"This means there is still very large potential to develop seaweed cultivation in NTT," she said in Kupang on Monday, 28 July 2026.
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She explained that seaweed production centers in NTT are spread across Kupang Regency, Rote Ndao, Sabu Raijua, Alor, East Flores, Lembata, East Sumba, Southwest Sumba, Ngada, and Nagekeo Regency.
To accelerate development of the commodity, the NTT Provincial Administration has designated five seaweed development clusters, such as the Timor Cluster, Rote-Sabu Cluster, East Flores Cluster, Central Flores Cluster, and Sumba Cluster.
"Development will be carried out more integratively from upstream to downstream so it can increase competitiveness and added value of seaweed products," she said, as quoted by Antara.
Stefania said several subdistricts were prioritized as development zones based on surveys and potential mapping. These areas were selected for their suitable bio-ecological characteristics, experienced local communities, and availability of extensive cultivation areas.
Those areas include Pahungalodu and Rindi subdistricts in East Sumba; Kodi Bangedo and North Kodi in Southwest Sumba; Semau Selatan, Semau, West Kupang, and Sulamu in Kupang Regency. Also included are Landu Leko and Loaholu in West Rote; Pantai Baru in East Rote; Southwest Rote; and Ndao Nuse in Rote Ndao Regency; Buyasuri, Nagawutung, and Omesuri in Lembata Regency.
Further priority areas are West Pantar and Northwest Pantar in Alor Regency; and Raijua, Hawu Mehara, East Sabu, Central Sabu, Sabu Liae, and West Sabu in Sabu Raijua Regency.
Stefania said the local administration will continue to optimize use of potential land by providing superior seedlings and establishing seedling nurseries. This effort will be reinforced by improving cultivation infrastructure, mentoring farmers, and building partnerships with processing industries.
"Hopefully NTT’s seaweed potential can generate greater added value for the regional economy while improving welfare of coastal communities," she said.
She added that NTT seaweed production during 2019–2025 showed a fluctuating trend. Peak production was recorded in 2020 at 2.16 million tons, then declined in 2021–2022 due to Cyclone Seroja.
Production rose to 1.56 million tons in 2023 and fell to 1.47 million in 2024. As of 2025, based on preliminary data, production reached around 1.25 million tons.
According to Stefania, production fluctuations are influenced by seasonal and climatic changes, ice-ice disease outbreaks, seedling quality, water environment conditions, and market dynamics.
The administration is not only focusing on expanding cultivation areas but also on increasing seaweed productivity. This is being pursued through use of superior seedlings, implementation of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP), and farmer mentoring to make harvests more stable and sustainable. ***
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