The seaweed cultivation pioneer project of UMS

The seaweed cultivation pioneer project

commenced : March 1999

ended : December 200

Location : Banggi Island, Kudat.

A joimnt project between Ministry of Rural Development, Malaysia, Sabah State Government and UMS (Borneo Marine Research Institute).

Main focus of the project was to identify and select suitable sites for the cultivation and propagation of Eucheuma sp.

Priority was given to improvement technique and method in seaweed cultivation through the following objectives:

Exposing participants to new and improved culturing technique and management.
Encourage participants to expend farmed areas in order to increase yield and profit.
Introducing seaweed culture activity to new participants in new areas
Establishing seaweed marketing system and seaweed industry in Sabah.
To develop new commercial products for local and export market.

SEAWEED, Eucheuma spinosum

The Balambangan Island / Banggi Seaweed Development Project (PPRL) was established in 1999 managed by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). The development activities carried out by UMS include;

a) Introducing seaweed culture to the community of Balambangan and Banggi Islands

b) Identifying ideal seaweed culture area

c) Carrying out research and development on culture technique and disease

d) Commercialization and marketing of seaweed

UMS has introduced Eucheuma spinosum as a main commodity for commercialization. Although the species fetches a low market price, the relatively higher growth rate and higher resilient to environmental stressors, makes it a low risk investment. The price for E. spinosum in the market is between RM 0.25 - RM 0.30 per kg for fresh seaweed, and for salted seaweed is between RM 1.00-RM 1.20 per kg.

There are three products has been produced i.e. washed seaweed, edible seaweed and powder. These products have a higher demand from China, Japan and South Korea.

Borneo Marine Research Institute
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
88999 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Telephone: +60-88-320266, Fax: +60-88-320261, E-mail: bmru@ums.edu.my