Author: Emy Maro (Secretary and Coordinator of FoRLa Information Center)

This Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed seedling trial activity originated from the idea that there are many potential locations in the Alor Seaweed Forum (FoRLa-Alor) fostered area that have not been maximally utilized. This is also coupled with the problem of the vulnerability of a cultivation location to disease with the condition of seeds that are not superior, which then becomes the background of FoRLa's need to conduct trials of seaweed seeds.

FoRLa-Alor, a community group assisted by WWF-Indonesia, brought in tissue culture seaweed seeds from Lampung. Lampung's Mina Bahari-Pesawaran Cooperative developed the tissue culture seedlings under the guidance of the Lampung Center for Marine Aquaculture. The journey of these seedlings to Alor took a long time. Transportation constraints had become an obstacle when the seaweed was sent from Kupang to Alor. Seaweed seedlings were rescued on the high seas at the cultivation site in Bolok Kupang with the help of Cristian Holeng and Tardi from WWF-Indonesia, before being sent to Alor the next day using cargo services.

The closest FoRLa-Alor-assisted farmers are in Pante Deere with motivator, Yeremias Pentele; and Octopus Pond Group Chairman, Nahem Daelpen, at the helm. They are very eager to develop the seedlings. Coordinated by Nur Ahyani from WWF-Indonesia, in mid-December 2015, they prepared a tie-up site and span ropes so that the seedlings could be planted safely. The next day, three boxes of Kappaphycus alvarezii seedlings with a total weight of about 59 kg arrived in Alor, and were immediately secured at Pante Deere. Three ropes approximately 35 meters long in the sea at the nursery site had been prepared by the group to tie the seedlings. Before tying the seedlings, the group gave thanks and prayed for the growth of the seaweed.

Learning from past experiences, actually in 2010, FoRLa-Alor, accompanied by Swiss Contact, had introduced new seeds of sacol seaweed (Kappaphycus striatum) from Geger Beach, Nusa Dua Bali. The introduction of this new seedling was done as a strategy to overcome the decline in production due to the severe attack of ice-ice disease on Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed which was being cultivated at that time.

Hopefully with this learning, the seaweed seedlings that are currently being tested at Deere Beach can develop well so that they can be disseminated to all FoRLa-Alor members.