Milne Bay supports seaweed farming

By GIBSON GEORGE TORASO
MILNE Bay’s deputy provincial administrator Nimrod Mark says the provincial government will fully support seaweed farming in the province.
Malaysian company, Seaweed Marine (PNG) Ltd, is involved with locals from Sideia island, Samarai-Murua district, in farming seaweed for export.
Mark said that seaweed played a big role in the livelihood of the island people over the years but had depleted due to population increase and other natural factors.
“The company’s involvement in motivating the people to farm seaweed will help preserve the resource and we want to encourage more people to get involved,” Mark said.
It would also ensure food security for coastal communities.
“I would like to see this kind of activity reaching the rural people and hope that all local level government council wards in the province will participate in seaweed farming,” he said.
With the company’s assistance, the provincial government will improve the activity by collaborating to provide further training for those involved.
He said seaweed farming could spread to other maritime provinces such as Kavieng, Manus and New Ireland.
Mark said the company was also involved in developing rice growing in the area.
The seaweed project has so far covered 1.5km of the coral reefs in the area.
Seaweed is one of the richest plant sources for dietary fibre, Omega 3, calcium, iron, zinc, iodine, phosphorus, manganese and other elements that are extracted and used for food production and cosmetics among other items.