The Blue Horizon Seaweed Project, comprising the SEAFDEC Project management Unit (PMU), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) of the Philippines, and the Department of Fisheries and Surveillance (DFiS) of Viet Nam, participated in the International Water Conference 11 (IWC11) held in Bali, Indonesia, from 19–22 October 2026.

On 21 October 2026, the project contributed to Clinic Session 15: “A Dose of Knowledge: Building a Resilient and Sustainable Seaweed Value Chain in Southeast Asia.” The session provided an opportunity to share country experiences, challenges, and good practices in advancing a more resilient and sustainable seaweed industry across the region.

Ms. Ida Capacio from BFAR and Ms. Mai Anh from DFiS shared experiences and good practices from the Philippines and Viet Nam, highlighting key challenges facing seaweed producers and value-chain actors in their respective countries. Muhamad Nour, representing the SEAFDEC PMU, provided an overview of the Blue Horizon project and its efforts to support the development of a Regional Guide and Regional Principles for Responsible and Sustainable Seaweed Aquaculture in Southeast Asia.

The session highlighted the importance of regional collaboration and knowledge exchange to address shared challenges and strengthen the sustainability, resilience, and inclusiveness of the seaweed value chain. IWC11 brought together approximately 200 participants from GEF-funded projects around the world, providing an important platform for sharing experiences and fostering collaboration on sustainable water and marine resource management.

The Blue Horizon Seaweed Aquaculture is funded by Global Environment Facility (GEF) through WWF US as GEF Agency, executed by SEAFDEC PMU, BFAR – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Philippines, and DFiS – Department of Fisheries and Surveillance Viet Nam.