BY RODRICK DESURI
AUKI
The Taba’a Sanctuary Seaweed Farming Association is growing and expanding its farming at Taba’a Reef, which attracts and engages more communities in West Kwaio, Malaita Province.
The association was established in August 2025, and with only six months of operation, it has engaged six communities from Ano’ano and Takwaisae (inland) to Lato, with their farm plots reaching 25,000 plants.
Patrick Unuka, chairman of the Taba’a Sanctuary Seaweed Farming Association said their goal is to engage more communities in seaweed farming, helping them benefit from it.
He expressed hope to reach 100 to 200 bags of dried seaweed and to make their first sale in October. The association’s focus is on transplanting to expand its farms.
“Currently, we have six zones comprising communities from Anoano, Takwaisae to Lato in Ward 27. Our association is just six months old, and according to our recorded data, we have almost 25,000 plants on our farm, except for some that I did not record last week.
“Our aim is to reach 100 to 200 bags of dried seaweed before we make our first sale. So now, we are just harvesting our seaweed and preserving it for that time,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said that seaweed farming has attracted many communities, which he added requires materials; scarcity is the challenge they have faced.
He added that a fisheries team will be visiting to provide and equip them with valuable information and insights on how to plant, transplant, care for, and dry the seaweed.
“Many communities want to venture into seaweed farming, but the challenges we have faced are due to the limited availability of materials.
“So, sometime this month, a fisheries team will be visiting us to provide training on how to plant, transplant, care for, and look after seaweed, as well as to provide other essential information,” he said.
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