Maldives Set to Export First Seaweed Batch, Advancing Its Blue Economy Goals

The Maldives is preparing to export its first batch of commercially cultivated seaweed, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to diversify its economy through sustainable marine industries. The move positions the Maldives to tap into the fast-growing global seaweed market at a time when nations worldwide are turning toward ocean-based economic opportunities.

The pioneering initiative is led by Floating Acres, a private mariculture firm that began commercial-scale seaweed cultivation in April this year at Fehendhoo in Baa Atoll. With its inaugural export stock now ready, the company’s progress signals a major step forward for mariculture development in the Maldives.

The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources said the achievement reflects growing momentum in harnessing marine resources for sustainable economic growth. Officials highlighted that seaweed farming presents both economic and environmental benefits—creating jobs, boosting export earnings, and supporting ecological balance through low-impact ocean farming.

This first export follows recent regulatory reforms that cleared the path for commercial mariculture activities after years of policy stagnation. While seaweed farming trials in the Maldives had previously shown strong potential, the lack of a formal regulatory structure had long prevented commercial-scale production from taking off.

Globally, the seaweed industry is expanding rapidly. Valued at USD 17.14 billion in 2023, the market is projected to double by 2032, fueled by rising demand for seaweed in food products, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biofuel. Asia dominates the sector, with China, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Philippines leading global production.

For the Maldives, where over 99 percent of its territory is ocean, mariculture offers a strategic avenue to strengthen the fisheries sector and broaden export opportunities. Industry observers say the country’s entry into commercial seaweed cultivation marks an important shift toward a more diversified and resilient ocean economy—one that leverages the Maldives’ vast marine resources in a sustainable and future-focused way.