Grappling with Biosecurity Challenges: Identifying and Mitigating Biosecurity Risks in the Indonesian Seaweed Aquaculture Industry

The seaweed aquaculture industry is emerging as a significant global blue economy business. This industry holds considerable potential to tackle issues such as food security, climate change, and poverty. This chapter discusses the role of biosecurity in managing disease outbreaks and epiphyte infestations, and improving the quality of seedlings in seaweed aquaculture, incorporating updates from the Indonesian seaweed aquaculture sector. In 2019, the concept of biosecurity was introduced and implemented by the eucheumatoid aquaculture industry in Indonesia. It is timely, therefore, to provide an update on the current status of the implementation of the biosecurity concept in the Indonesian seaweed aquaculture industry. This study assesses whether the concept has been effectively integrated into the national aquaculture systems, whether farmers have adopted it, or whether no progress has been made. This evaluation is based on a thorough review of the scientific literature and unpublished reports. The discussion focuses on identification of seaweed biosecurity in current regulations and policies, strategies to reduce disease outbreaks and infestations of epiphytes at the farm level, the mitigation of other biosecurity risks, including identification non-native species, and field observations to improve seed stock. Enhancing biosecurity measures is crucial for the national seaweed industry in maintaining sustainable seaweed production and ensuring a high-quality and healthy seaweed stock.