A Look at Seaweed Cultivation on Ontoloe Island, NTT

The coastal communities of Ontoloe Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province, are cultivating seaweed as an effort to maintain the sustainability of the marine ecosystem while securing their primary source of livelihood. Seaweed is a vital pillar for the coastal environment due to its various ecological functions, including serving as a habitat and food source for various marine biota, purifying waters, acting as a blue carbon absorber to assist in climate change mitigation, and providing natural protection for coasts against abrasion. Beyond its ecological benefits, seaweed holds high economic value as a raw material for various global industries, thereby contributing significantly to the welfare of the coastal communities on Ontoloe Island.