For many coastal household, seaweed is more than a commodity, it is a source of livelihood and opportunity. Income from seaweed farming helps families pay for their children's education, meet household expenses, and put nutritious food on the table. Across Southeast Asia, the seaweed industry continues to play an important role in supporting coastal economies and the well-being of communities.

To strengthen the development of the Regional Guide for a Sustainable Seaweed Industry and the Regional Principles for Responsible and Safe Seaweed Aquaculture, SEAFDEC facilitated a field visit to the Queen Sirikit Marine Farm Study Centre, bringing together representatives from ASEAN Member States, the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department, and Prof. Phaik Eem Lim from the Global Seaweed Coalition.

Regional seaweed experts and policymakers are meeting in Bangkok for the Second Seaweed Technical Working Group Meeting under the Blue Horizon Project, marking a critical step toward shaping a sustainable and inclusive seaweed industry across Southeast Asia to refine two key regional outputs namely Guide to Promoting a Sustainable Seaweed Industry and Principles/Toolkits for Responsible and Safe Seaweed Aquaculture.

The Blue Horizon Seaweed Project team visited Palawan, meeting the Calamianes Seaweed Marketing Cooperative. Supported by BFAR’s training and infrastructure, the cooperative demonstrates how empowering women strengthens livelihoods, builds sustainable value chains, and advances seaweed aquaculture.

The SEAFDEC Project Management Unit (PMU), in collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Philippines (BFAR), hosted the 2 nd Meeting of the Project Steering Committee (2-PSC) of the Blue Horizon: Ocean Relief through Seaweed Aquaculture Project, in Palawan, the Philippines.