Emerging Seaweed Industry Development in South-Eastern Bangladesh: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

The seaweed industry in south-eastern Bangladesh is emerging as a promising component of the national blue bioeconomy, supported by growing global demand for sustainable marine resources and climate-resilient aquaculture systems. This comprehensive review synthesizes existing knowledge on seaweed biodiversity, cultivation practices, spatial distribution, seasonal dynamics, value chain development, and socio-economic potential across key coastal ecosystems including Cox’s Bazar, Saint Martin’s Island, and adjacent estuarine zones. The coastal waters of Bangladesh harbor a diverse macroalgal flora, encompassing representatives of the phyla Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta, as well as Ochrophyta, particularly the class Phaeophyceae. Despite this considerable taxonomic diversity, only a relatively small proportion of the documented species is currently utilized for commercial cultivation. Low-cost cultivation systems, particularly floating long-lines and bamboo raft-based methods, have demonstrated technical feasibility for key genera such as Gracilaria, Hypnea, and Ulva, providing opportunities for livelihood diversification among coastal communities. However, sectoral development remains constrained by strong monsoon-driven seasonality, inadequate seed supply systems, weak post-harvest infrastructure, limited market integration, and underdeveloped industrial processing capacity. Additional challenges include fragmented governance structures, limited access to financial resources, and low domestic consumer acceptance driven by cultural unfamiliarity with seaweed-based foods. Despite these barriers, the sector presents substantial potential for expansion through integrated policy support investment in value-added processing industries such as hydrocolloids, establishment of marine spatial planning frameworks, and strengthened public-private partnerships. Enhancing research-industry collaboration and developing resilient supply chains are essential for transitioning seaweed farming from a seasonal livelihood activity to a sustainable commercial industry.