Prospects and challenges in commercialization of seaweeds in Bangladesh

Abstract

Seaweeds or macroalgae are presumed to be the food supplement for the ever-increasing world population in the twenty-first century especially in Asian countries. From ancient times, they are exceedingly used almost everywhere in the globe because of their multifarious applications ranging from food & nutritional, and industrial applications. Bangladesh has the undeniable potential of naturally available seaweeds along the whole extended coastline because of the propitious environmental and climatic conditions. A rich diversity of red, brown, and green seaweeds is exclusively found in Saint Martin Island, Cox's Bazar, and the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest. Hypnea, Sargassum, Ulva, Caulerpa, Gelidium, Enteromorpha, Porphyra, Padina, etc. are the most abundantly occurring seaweeds in Bangladesh. As seaweed aquaculture in Bangladesh is in the infant stage, there is a need for extensive research and assessment of the aquatic biodiversity to support the seaweed industry. The Government of Bangladesh has already ascertained seaweed aquaculture as a maiden concept of mariculture in the national development plan. This chapter elucidates the potentiality and pivotal role of seaweeds in the context of Bangladesh's efforts to encourage seaweed aquaculture for boosting the national economy.