Conserving seaweeds: knowledge, attitudes, and practices from industry and conservation stakeholders in South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract

Seaweed cultivation is estimated to sustain over 6 million livelihoods worldwide, particularly in low-income tropical regions, such as Indonesia. The wild stocks that underpin this industry, however, are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures (e.g. climate change and overexploitation) that undermine its productivity and resilience. Although seaweed cultivation has been proposed as a nature-based solution to conserve biodiversity and support livelihoods, its long-term viability depends on the sustainable use and management of seaweed habitats by stakeholders. This study conducted a knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey of seaweed industry and conservation stakeholders in South Sulawesi, Indonesia (n = 99 of which 87 respondents were based in South Sulawesi), to assess perspectives on seaweed conservation. Despite knowledge and supportive attitudes towards seaweed conservation being high, these were not consistently matched by sustained action. Key barriers to sustainable practices included a lack of understanding of the threats to wild seaweeds, livelihood instability that constrained conservation-aligned behaviour, and practical limitations (notably insufficient resources and technical support). To address these challenges, this study recommends risk-reducing mechanisms to support practice adoption (e.g., peer-to-peer learning, strengthened extension support, and risk-buffering finance), alongside co-designed seaweed monitoring programs, and targeted ocean literacy initiatives. Collectively, these measures could help translate stakeholder support into tangible seaweed conservation action, supporting a more sustainable seaweed sector that safeguards seaweed habitats and secures coastal livelihoods.

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