Seaweeds for the sustainable blue economy development: A study from the south east coast of Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a maritime country with an area of 118000 km2 which supports a large number of commercially important species. Currently seaweeds are considered as important component of blue economy development in Bangladesh and farming is practiced at small scale level (Hypnea spp, Caulerpha reacemo...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zahir Uddin Ahmed, Omar Hasan, Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, Morgina Akter, Md Shajjadur Rahman, Subrata Sarker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2022-03-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402200367X
_version_ 1811328465016717312
author Zahir Uddin Ahmed
Omar Hasan
Muhammad Mizanur Rahman
Morgina Akter
Md Shajjadur Rahman
Subrata Sarker
author_facet Zahir Uddin Ahmed
Omar Hasan
Muhammad Mizanur Rahman
Morgina Akter
Md Shajjadur Rahman
Subrata Sarker
author_sort Zahir Uddin Ahmed
collection DOAJ
description Bangladesh is a maritime country with an area of 118000 km2 which supports a large number of commercially important species. Currently seaweeds are considered as important component of blue economy development in Bangladesh and farming is practiced at small scale level (Hypnea spp, Caulerpha reacemosa, Gelidium sp. are cultured). For the expansion of the seaweed farming in Bangladesh, a complete understanding of social and economic status of current farmers is important. However, information on socio-economic status of seaweed industry in Bangladesh is very limited. Therefore, this study aimed to understand existing culture methods and their cost, marketing channel and problems with seaweed farming in south east coast of Bangladesh. We used questionnaire survey and focus group discussions to collect data from seaweed farmers, researchers, local community and entrepreneurs. The study found that farmers are currently practicing long-line and horizontal net methods for the seaweed farming in the south east coastal region. The study also found that these culture methods are economically profitable. Seaweeds are currently sold locally and a proper value chain for seaweed marketing is still missing. Existing seaweed farmers are facing the problems related to insufficient credits for starting seaweed farming, lack of proper guidelines for farming and processing of harvested seaweed. This study suggests that for industrial level expansion of seaweed production in Bangladesh a proper value chain, development of seaweed derived products, farm monitoring systems, smooth seed supply and information hubs are required.
first_indexed 2024-04-13T15:26:41Z
format Article
id doaj.art-592968c241c84314a24471d421fa089a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2405-8440
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-13T15:26:41Z
publishDate 2022-03-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Heliyon
spelling doaj.art-592968c241c84314a24471d421fa089a2022-12-22T02:41:30ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402022-03-0183e09079Seaweeds for the sustainable blue economy development: A study from the south east coast of BangladeshZahir Uddin Ahmed0Omar Hasan1Muhammad Mizanur Rahman2Morgina Akter3Md Shajjadur Rahman4Subrata Sarker5Department of Economics, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, BangladeshFalcon International, Cox's Bazar, BangladeshDepartment of Oceanography, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, BangladeshDepartment of Oceanography, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, BangladeshDepartment of Oceanography, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, BangladeshDepartment of Oceanography, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet, 3114, Bangladesh; Corresponding author.Bangladesh is a maritime country with an area of 118000 km2 which supports a large number of commercially important species. Currently seaweeds are considered as important component of blue economy development in Bangladesh and farming is practiced at small scale level (Hypnea spp, Caulerpha reacemosa, Gelidium sp. are cultured). For the expansion of the seaweed farming in Bangladesh, a complete understanding of social and economic status of current farmers is important. However, information on socio-economic status of seaweed industry in Bangladesh is very limited. Therefore, this study aimed to understand existing culture methods and their cost, marketing channel and problems with seaweed farming in south east coast of Bangladesh. We used questionnaire survey and focus group discussions to collect data from seaweed farmers, researchers, local community and entrepreneurs. The study found that farmers are currently practicing long-line and horizontal net methods for the seaweed farming in the south east coastal region. The study also found that these culture methods are economically profitable. Seaweeds are currently sold locally and a proper value chain for seaweed marketing is still missing. Existing seaweed farmers are facing the problems related to insufficient credits for starting seaweed farming, lack of proper guidelines for farming and processing of harvested seaweed. This study suggests that for industrial level expansion of seaweed production in Bangladesh a proper value chain, development of seaweed derived products, farm monitoring systems, smooth seed supply and information hubs are required.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402200367XSeaweedEconomicsFarmingCoastalBangladesh
spellingShingle Zahir Uddin Ahmed
Omar Hasan
Muhammad Mizanur Rahman
Morgina Akter
Md Shajjadur Rahman
Subrata Sarker
Seaweeds for the sustainable blue economy development: A study from the south east coast of Bangladesh
Heliyon
Seaweed
Economics
Farming
Coastal
Bangladesh
title Seaweeds for the sustainable blue economy development: A study from the south east coast of Bangladesh
title_full Seaweeds for the sustainable blue economy development: A study from the south east coast of Bangladesh
title_fullStr Seaweeds for the sustainable blue economy development: A study from the south east coast of Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Seaweeds for the sustainable blue economy development: A study from the south east coast of Bangladesh
title_short Seaweeds for the sustainable blue economy development: A study from the south east coast of Bangladesh
title_sort seaweeds for the sustainable blue economy development a study from the south east coast of bangladesh
topic Seaweed
Economics
Farming
Coastal
Bangladesh
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402200367X
work_keys_str_mv AT zahiruddinahmed seaweedsforthesustainableblueeconomydevelopmentastudyfromthesoutheastcoastofbangladesh
AT omarhasan seaweedsforthesustainableblueeconomydevelopmentastudyfromthesoutheastcoastofbangladesh
AT muhammadmizanurrahman seaweedsforthesustainableblueeconomydevelopmentastudyfromthesoutheastcoastofbangladesh
AT morginaakter seaweedsforthesustainableblueeconomydevelopmentastudyfromthesoutheastcoastofbangladesh
AT mdshajjadurrahman seaweedsforthesustainableblueeconomydevelopmentastudyfromthesoutheastcoastofbangladesh
AT subratasarker seaweedsforthesustainableblueeconomydevelopmentastudyfromthesoutheastcoastofbangladesh