Maldives Grants Seaweed Farming Permits to Three More Islands

The Maldives government has approved permits for commercial seaweed farming on three additional islands, as it pushes to develop the mariculture industry. The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources said interest in seaweed cultivation is growing, with five permits already issued and operations underway on two islands. The new locations – Gemanafushi in Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Veyvah in Meemu Atoll, and Hithadhoo in Laamu Atoll – have received council approval and are now in the final permit stage. The government has designated 13 zones across six atolls, covering 3,849 hectares, for mariculture development. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has prioritized the sector, with a pilot project launched in April 2025 and the first industrial-scale seaweed export recorded last year. The global seaweed market, valued at $17.14 billion in 2023, is expected to double by 2032, according to industry experts. The Maldives, which is 99% ocean, aims to boost exports and create jobs through the initiative.