If you visit any of the islands on the South East coast of Bali you will see locals using the shallow waters for harvesting seaweed. Strolling along the beach in Nusa Lembongan you can see that this is a major local industry that involves all the family, except the children who seem to spend most of their time flying kites in the prevailing winds.

2 substances are obtained from the seaweed, carrageenan which is used in cosmetics and agar which is a vegetable gel.

Seaweed farming is one industry that conservations often encourage those living near coral reefs to become involved in. It is a sustainable industry that causes little or no damage to the environment and can allow reefs to flourish unencumbered by human degradation.

In order to farm seaweed you need clean ocean water, which is not subject to strong currents, so often seaweed farms will be found in areas protected by a reef. The farmed seaweed remains covered in water at low tide and must not be subjected to extreme fluctuations in water temperature or salinity.

Seaweed farming is becoming a more lucrative and is a huge boost to these areas. A kilo of dried seaweed may be sold for 1,500-4,000 IRP depending on the type.

Seaweed farms use bamboo frames with strings criss-crossing it to hold the seaweed shoots. These are harvested after 45 days when they are removed and dried in the sun. When you walk the villagers houses in Lembongan the smell of drying seaweed fills the air.

More Information on Bali’s dive sites:
The Dive Sites of Bali

For more on what to do in Bali see here:
Bali Tourist Information