The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry Sabah (MAFI) will be organizing a seaweed mega fiesta known as Seaweed Splash 2018 from March 30 to April 1, 2018, in Kampung Lok Butun, Semporna, Sabah.
Highlights of the 3-day event, held in conjunction with the Regatta Lepa festival’s 25th anniversary celebrations, include:
- Seaweed Beauty Pageant (Finals: 1 April 2018, Venue: Dewan Masyarakat Semporna)
- Seaweed Explorace
- Decorated boats
- Culinary seaweed
- Seaweed buskers
Seaweed Splash 2018 aims to promote the seaweed industry in Sabah to help:
- increase the demand and income of breeders;
- bring up the market price of seaweed; and
- expand the local and export market for seaweed.
Sabah, which is located in the Coral Triangle, is the third largest producer, behind only Philippines and Indonesia, of the red seaweed (Rhodophyceae) species, Kappaphycus spp. and Eucheuma spp., used for the production of marine biopolymers, or carageenan.
In 2016, an estimated 206,000 metric tons of seaweed (gross weight) worth RM44 million (wholesale data) was produced, with this sector becoming an income source for almost 1,200 breeders in the 13,000 hectare-seaweed cultivation area in Sabah’s waters comprising Semporna, Kunak, Tawau and Lahad Datu.
Please direct all enquiries to https://www.facebook.com/SSsemporna2018/
Map
Seaweed Splash 2018, Kampung Lok Butun, Pulau Bum Bum, Semporna
