report · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Seaweed cultivation is growing internationally due to sustainability demands, yet both farmed and wild stocks face severe threats from climate change, pests, and diseases. To counter these challenges, a national workshop was convened in Bangkok, Thailand, to advance the Progressive Management Pathway for Improving Seaweed Biosecurity under the Food and Agriculture Organization. The initiative focuses on primary seaweed species commercially farmed in Thailand, aiming to curb crop losses through improved farm-level biosecurity practices. Discussions also addressed the potential cultivation of alternative commercial species, alongside conservation and restoration measures for wild stocks needed to breed resilient strains for changing climates. Drawing on insights from international programmes, the gathering established collaborative foundations between academic, governmental, and charitable organisations to integrate biosecurity protocols into national aquaculture frameworks.
Seaweed aquaculture provides sustainable economic opportunities, but outbreaks of pests and diseases threaten its viability. Establishing standard biosecurity frameworks helps safeguard existing cultivation, protects wild marine environments, and supports the development of climate-resilient crop varieties. This collaborative approach provides policymakers and industry stakeholders with structured pathways to mitigate agricultural losses and strengthen coastal economies.
The initiative targets seaweed aquaculture enterprises and coastal farmers looking to curb crop losses caused by diseases and pests. It focuses on commercial seaweed varieties and evaluates alternative species for commercial production. The work represents an applied policy and management framework stage, serving as an operational basis to develop national biosecurity standards rather than delivering an immediate market-ready commercial product.
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Seaweed cultivation is rapidly expanding globally due to heightened awareness of environmental sustainability, coupled with the acknowledgment that cultivated seaweed and wild seaweed are facing significant losses attributable to climate change impacts. This necessitates urgent collaboration among key stakeholders to establish a sustainable management framework for the aquaculture industry, focusing on improving biosecurity in seaweed farming (PMP/AB Seaweed) under the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This collaborative effort aims to protect the industry and can be integrated with the national guidelines for seaweed biosecurity. The PMP/AB Seaweed workshop, held in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 26 28, 2025, aims to address the challenges faced by the industry, particularly in terms of diseases and pests, and to provide solutions to reduce losses. The event, which includes presentations and interactive discussions, has attracted 43 participants, with 28 women and 15 men. (See Annex 1 and Annex 2 for a detailed schedule and participant list.) In addition, 13 participants from the southern region of Thailand, who were originally scheduled to participate, had to cancel their attendance due to severe weather conditions in the area. The workshop offers simultaneous services in Thai and English. The event focuses on the main seaweedspecies cultivated commercially in Thailand. The challenges include diseases and pests, and the workshop aims to provide solutions to reduce losses. It also provides opportunities for discussion on other seaweed species that could be used in commercial settings and methods to protect and restore natural seaweed sources in Thailand, which are crucial for the development of resilient seaweed farming strains suitable for future climate changes. This meeting builds upon the extensive knowledge gained through various global initiatives, including GlobalSeaweed Star (2017 2025), GlobalSeaweed SuperStar (2026 2030), and GlobalSeaweed PROTECT (2028 2031). It gathers extensive experience and expertise from all participants to support Thailand's development of PMP/AB Seaweed, integrating safety marine seaweed practices. This event is organized by the Yunus Thailand Foundation under the auspices of Kasetsart University, in collaboration with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), and the Natural History Museum (NHM). We extend our gratitude to the UK Research and Innovation for supporting this event (ref: UKAR275).
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DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22243070
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