Seaweeds are valuable biological and economical resource with different applications leading to a fast-growing sector worldwide. However, macroalgal cultivation and bioprocessing are still scarce in the Mediterranean region and in Tunisia in particular where, despite a rich seaweed biodiversity, algae remain very little exploited. A recent study [1] pointed out that natural seaweed biomass of Tunisian coasts is limited and most of the research is focused on seaweed biotechnology. Nevertheless, to develop the seaweed industry, Tunisia needs to increase efforts by promoting seaweed culture activities for biomass availability. Therefore, one of the major disadvantages of seaweed sector developments is the limited capacity to increase knowledge on seaweed aquaculture. Thus, while the Tunisian aquaculture sector, mainly based on fish production, is in expansion and Tunisian Government is actively pursuing blue economy development initiatives, seaweed farming development is at its ideal timing.
We here present, the potential of the seaweed sector in Tunisia in terms of biodiversity, cultivation, and bioprocessing, and discuss the major challenges, i.e., biology, building capacity, technology, and policy that currently hinder the expansion of a sustainable Tunisian seaweed industry based on swot analysis, questionnaire surveys, training evaluation and workshop exchanges made through the TAHALEB Project.
Key words: Tunisia, macroalgae cultivation, blue economy, opportunities, challenges
Acknowledgements:
This work is part of the project TAHALEB (SSC - Spring 2022 – TAHALEB - LS259696, “Enhancing Tunisian capacities for seaweed production and biotechnology”) financed by Global Seaweed Coalition.
References:
[1] Ktari L, Chebil Ajjabi L, De Clerck O , Gómez Pinchetti JL, Rebours C. Seaweeds as a promising resource for blue economy development in Tunisia: current state, opportunities, and challenges. Journal of Applied Phycology (2022) 34:489–505