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SEAWEED DIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA
can be cultured in shrimp ponds, where the seaweed removes dissolved nutrients from the
excess feed of the shrimps, thereby cleaning up the water, and produce a useful biomass for
extraction of agar and agarose or any other useful biochemicals (Phang et al. 1996). The
seaweeds can also be used to feed aquaculture species like abalone. The young larvae find
protection amongst the seaweeds from predators and the seaweeds also produce oxygen and
remove carbon dioxide, thereby contributing to reduction in global warming simultaneously.
THREATS TO SEAWEED RESOURCES
There is little information on the ecology and biology of tropical seaweeds, more so of the
Malaysian species (Phang 1988, 1989, 1995; Wong & Phang 2004). Information on standing
biomass and productivity of natural populations is scarce, while none on the harvesting from
any natural seaweed populations is available.
Threats to seaweed resources include land reclamation, construction of jetties, bridges and
marinas, pollution, trawlers, destructive fishing methods, sand mining, overharvesting of
commercial species, introduction of alien and invasive species, illegal bioprospecting and
also natural phenomena like tropical storms, typhoons and global warming. Of these threats,
development of islands and coastal areas into resorts and marinas is the greatest. Natural
sandy habitats and fringing coral reefs have been silted over by clearing of mangroves (Phang
1988, 1995) as well as beach areas, for aquaculture and construction. Increased marine traffic
adds oil and grease to the waters, while untreated discharges from sewage facilities, rubber
and palm oil mills, electronic and electro-plating industries, bring organic and inorganic
pollutants to the marine ecosystem (Ramachandran et al. 1995).
MANAGEMENT OF SEAWEED RESOURCES
Habitat destruction is an important issue related to the management of the seaweeds. Continued
population concentration in coastal areas will lead to increased user conflicts, competition for
ocean resources and habitat destruction. Aquaculture may replace wild fishing, resulting in
impacts on the habitats of the seaweeds in the form of pollution and also habitat destruction.
This issue may hopefully be addressed with the implementation of the National Coastal Zone
Management Plan. The increase in bioprospecting would require laws to prevent biopiracy.
Presently there are no specific legislations or policies to safeguard the seaweed resources.
Marine Parks serve as refuges for seaweeds, but without increased manpower, funding and
authority, even seaweed habitats in protected areas may be threatened. While about 14 ministries
and 23 government agencies perform ocean related functions, there is no clear Federal-State
relationship regarding biodiversity management. There is also lack of coordinated gathering,
processing, storage and dissemination of biodiversity information. Recently the Marine Parks
Division has been entrusted the task of documenting the marine resources of Malaysia. There
is a lack of skilled human resources in implementing agencies as well as research institutions
and universities for managing the resources, especially in the form of taxonomists. The
important contribution of the general public to marine biodiversity conservation and
management must not be neglected. Non-governmental organisations like the Malaysian Nature
Society and the Malaysian Society of Marine Sciences regularly organise community awareness
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