Tropical Red Seaweeds as a Foundation for Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)

Seaplants such as macroalgae, microalgae, sea-grasses and mangroves form the primary productivity base for seashore habitats and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems. The foundation for sustainable seashore development is therefore the effective utilization, cultivation and management of seaplant populations.

In the long run the aquaculture productivity of global seashores can be maximized if seaplants are effectively developed as cash crops, feeds, fodder and bio-mitigation agents within IMTA systems that make optimal use of lower trophic-level species.

In the Coral Triangle 400 million people live in archipelagos that have 100,000 kilometres of tropical seashore distributed among more than 25,000 islands. About 80 million of these people live below the poverty line and many aspire to gain a sustainable livelihood from well managed seashore habitats.

IMTA development along Coral Triangle seashores can generate tens of billions of USD in annual income for micro, small and medium enterprises owned and operated by the coastal people of the Coral Triangle. IMTA can be developed on the basis of already existing technology, it addresses existing market demands, it can alleviate poverty for millions of people and it can generate positive environmental impacts. Stimulating adequate investment in this opportunity will generate substantial benefits that can be realised in the coming
decades.