Global Seaweed Coalition

03/09/2026

🌊 Can seaweed really save the planet?

Seaweed is often presented as a solution to some of today’s biggest challenges, from food security and climate action to sustainable materials.

But how much of that promise is backed by science?

In the first episode of The Deep Dive, WorldFish brings together scientists and experts from across research, aquaculture and industry to explore what seaweed can and cannot deliver.

🎥 Watch the conversation:
https://on.cgiar.org/4zJR8nr

26/08/2026

🌊 As world leaders convene in New York for the UN General Assembly, the Global Seaweed Coalition invites its members, partners and friends to come together for a dedicated Seaweed Session to take stock of progress across the Coalition's work, and look ahead to the months to come.

📅 Wednesday, 23 September | 3:00 – 6:00 PM (ET)
📍 United Nations Global Compact HQ, New York — and online

Register (in person) : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seaweed-session-during-the-un-general-assembly-tickets-1998946031390?aff=oddtdtcreator

Register (remote) : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seaweed-session-during-the-un-general-assembly-online-tickets-1998946334296?aff=oddtdtcreator

Agenda
-GSC and UNGSI Update — progress across the Coalition's four action pillars (science, policy, advocacy and funding), including the latest developments of the UN Global Seaweed Initiative, for which the Coalition serves as Secretariat
-COP31 Preparation — priorities and opportunities for seaweed on the road to COP31
-Sargassum — an exchange on recent developments and emerging responses
-General Member Update — news, updates and open discussion

We look forward to seeing you in New York — or online !

26/08/2026

🌿 Les algues à l’honneur au cinéma Sainte-Barbe à Roscoff ! 🌊

Ce dimanche 30 août à 16h45, venez découvrir « Les Bonnes Vivantes, à la rencontre des algues », le nouveau film de l’association Blutopia, au Cinéma Sainte-Barbe à Roscoff.

🎬 La projection sera suivie d’un temps d’échange avec Mélanie Cueff, responsable scientifique de la Global Seaweed CoalitionSeaweed Coalition, ainsi qu’avec l’équipe du film.

🌿 Et pour prolonger la découverte, une dégustation d’algues sera proposée par l’entreprise Bord à bord.

📅 Dimanche 30 août
🕓 16h45

18/08/2026

10/08/2026

🌿𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

INFOFISH is pleased to invite participants from its Member States to join the Technical Webinar on "𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲, 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁."

Organised in collaboration with the 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 (𝗙𝗔𝗢), 𝗨𝗡 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 (𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗧𝗔𝗗), the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗗𝗢) and the 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (𝗚𝗦𝗖), this webinar reflects our shared commitment to advancing sustainable seaweed industries through international cooperation, knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships.

As one of the fastest-growing sectors of the blue economy, seaweed offers significant opportunities 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲, 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 across Asia and the Pacific. This webinar will provide valuable insights into global market trends, investment opportunities, emerging regulations and practical experiences from international experts and industry leaders.

This exclusive webinar is open to participants from 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗢𝗙𝗜𝗦𝗛 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, including:

• Government fisheries agencies
• Policymakers
• Researchers and academia
• Development agencies
• Investors and entrepreneurs
• Seaweed producers, processors, exporters and industry stakeholders

𝟮𝟵 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 🕓 𝟰:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 (𝗚𝗠𝗧+𝟴)

⏰ 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀: 𝟮𝟴 𝗝𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝟱:𝟬𝟬 𝗣𝗠 (𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗮 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲)

We look forward to welcoming participants from across our Member States as we work together to unlock the full potential of sustainable seaweed trade and development.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_y-DTFY4lQn6OPce3dwuENQ #/registration

🌍 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝘂𝘁 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲: https://infofish.org/webinar/index.php/webinar-challenges-and-opportunities-in-sustainable-seaweed-trade-investment-and-development

19/07/2026

The Co-Chairs of the United Nations Global Seaweed Initiative, Elsa Tudal & Yas Farjad (France) & Felaniaina Lantovololona (Madagascar), have issued the Communiqué of the first Annual Meeting, held on 29 and 30 June 2026 in Geneva.

It reaffirms UNGSI’s commitment to practical, inclusive, science-based and action-oriented cooperation. It highlights the potential of seaweed to contribute to sustainable development, climate action, biodiversity, food security, trade diversification, circular materials, and resilient coastal livelihoods.

UNGSI is also pleased to welcome Ghana 🇬🇭 and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela 🇻🇪 as new Member States, and the International Trade Centre and United Nations University - CRIS as new supporting partners.

Together with all UNGSI members and partners, we look forward to turning shared ambition into coordinated action for safe, sustainable and inclusive seaweed value chains.



Download the Communiqué here :https://unctad.org/system/files/information-document/ted_ungsi-annual-meeting-communique-final-16_july-26_en.pdf

🌊🌊🌊

15/07/2026

For centuries, seaweed aquaculture has played an important role in coastal economies, diets, and cultures — and as we seek new solutions for climate change and biodiversity loss, this traditional foodway is attracting new interest for its environmental potential. To fully realize these benefits, and minimize environmental risks, it is essential that the seaweed aquaculture industry is developed with the right practices and in the right locations.

A free online introductory course, created by The Nature Conservancy, aims to provide a foundation for new and existing growers, policymakers, industry groups, supply chain actors, conservationists, and other stakeholders to support restorative seaweed aquaculture in tropical regions. Compiling a wealth of resources, tools, and research, this 4–5-hour self-paced course covers the basics of seaweed farming, environmental risks and benefits, better management practices, and community planning and engagement. The materials and content included in the course were developed over many years in partnership with regional experts in Indonesia, Tanzania, and Belize, where TNC has active restorative seaweed initiatives. All coursework is available in English, Spanish, Swahili, and Bahasa.

Register for the course here : https://www.conservationtraining.org/enrol/index.php?id=2258

Learn more : https://www.aquaculturescience.org/seaweedcourse/

This free online course provides a strong foundation for growers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

06/07/2026

Seaweed-based materials, which are fully compostable, are emerging as a promising substitute for plastic - particularly in packaging. Seaweed is especially promising because it is a rapidly renewable resource that grows without freshwater, fertilisers or agricultural land.

Global seaweed production has tripled over the past two decades, while exports have quadrupled to reach $3.9 billion in 2022. “As adoption grows, economies of scale improve and sustainable solutions become increasingly competitive,” Mr. Taylor said.
However, the route is not straightforward for many producers, entering the global seaweed trade remains difficult as regulations around seaweed remain incomplete and fragmented - especially for new uses which are not clearly defined in international trading systems.

This creates confusion and makes it harder for exporters to comply with requirements - only 0.75 million of the 36.3 million tonnes of seaweed produced in 2022 were traded internationally. Ultimately, this increases compliance costs for producers, especially for small businesses which seek to take advantage of the abundance of seaweed in many developing coastal countries, limiting their ability to export.

Plastic pollution is choking the ocean, but sustainable alternatives - including seaweed - remain held back by tariffs, fragmented regulations and the overwhelming market advantage enjoyed by fossil fuel-based plastics.

18/06/2026

🌊 𝐄𝐋 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐍 𝐀𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐃𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐆𝐀𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐒

Las algas marinas (rojas, verdes y pardas) cumplen un papel esencial en la salud de los ecosistemas marinos. Brindan hábitat, sostienen la biodiversidad, favorecen la pesca, contribuyen a la seguridad alimentaria y forman parte del sustento de millones de personas en comunidades costeras alrededor del mundo. 🌱🌎

En este contexto, la iniciativa global 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 busca impulsar acciones urgentes para conservar, restaurar y gestionar de manera sostenible estos ecosistemas hacia el 2030, en el marco de los esfuerzos internacionales frente al cambio climático y la pérdida de biodiversidad.

🎯 Esta iniciativa propone metas ambiciosas: detener la pérdida de hábitats, fortalecer su protección, recuperar áreas degradadas, promover medios de vida resilientes y equitativos, y movilizar financiamiento sostenible para su conservación.

🇵🇪 Nos llena de orgullo destacar que el equipo académico-científico del Vicerrectorado de Investigación - Universidad Científica del Sur participó en este trabajo global, contribuyendo desde el Perú con evidencia, experiencia y compromiso para impulsar la conservación, el uso sostenible y la valoración de las algas marinas como recursos estratégicos para la economía azul y la resiliencia costera.

💡 Estos ecosistemas no solo representan biodiversidad: también simbolizan futuro, alimento, ciencia, innovación y nuevas oportunidades para nuestras comunidades costeras.



Descargar: Juliet Brodie; Ben Jennings; Patrick Sullivan; Elizabeth J, Cottier-Cook et al. (2026). The Seaweed Breakthrough [Data set]. Natural History Museum. https://doi.org/10.5519/acal0m97