Sandals Foundation, Kee Fisheries partner to enhance seaweed farming
Published:Thursday | November 28, 2024 | 12:05 AMCarl Gilchrist/Gleaner Writer
Sandals Foundation and Kee Farms have joined forces to empower fisherfolk in the area of the Boscobel fish sanctuary in St Mary to implement an innovative seaweed farming initiative.
This initiative will enable the building of the fisherfolk’s capacity to cultivate and process seaweed into a high-demand algae product.
A release from Sandals Foundation says the project will help fishers tap into an environmentally friendly and alternative source of income by producing value-added products for sale to food and beverage companies locally, regionally, and internationally.
“Through this partnership, we’re empowering local communities to diversify their income in a way that not only benefits them, but also supports marine conservation efforts,” said Georgia Scarlett, environmental projects manager at Sandals Foundation.
“Seaweed farming is a viable way forward, and we’re proud to contribute to a project that uplifts both people and the planet,” she added.
Nicholas Kee – CEO and co-founder of Kee Farms, an ocean farm network based in Portland – is quite enthusiastic about the possibilities that the collaboration offers.
According to Kee, “We believe that seaweed farming has the potential to reshape the economic landscape for coastal communities. By equipping fisherfolk with the necessary tools and training, we’re creating an avenue for sustainable livelihoods that align with environmental preservation.”
The project includes a four-week workshop that will teach fishers how to grow seaweed, build rafts for production, and identify suitable sites for optimal growth.
When the seaweed matures in about six to eight weeks, Kee Farms will purchase it from the fisherfolk, who can also sell on the open market.
Bevin Campbell, one of the fishermen in the programme, is optimistic.
“This initiative gives us fisherfolk a chance to earn a steady income. The additional income will help my family and my community. It’s a good feeling,” Campbell said.
Despite some concerns regarding arsenic and iodine contents, there has been renewed interest in the use of seaweed internationally and locally because of its health benefits.
Seaweed is said to possess many health benefits and may be used to affect heart health, diabetes, cancer, thyroid, among other ailments. Low in calories, seaweed also contains protein, fibre, and polyphenols.
Sandals Foundation established the Boscobel fish sanctuary in 2013 to bolster marine conservation efforts, leading to the strengthening of relationship with the local fisherfolk in the area and the wider community. As a result, residents now assist with ecological protection practices.
Sandals Foundation says the partnership with Kee Farms takes the relationship to new heights.