Seaweed Namibia

Namibia’s seaweed industry has evolved from collecting natural beach-cast algae to exploring large-scale offshore aquaculture. Historically, the sector centered on Lüderitzbucht, where approximately 15,000 tonnes of beach-cast Gracilaria verrucosa were harvested annually for agar production, employing over 250 people by the mid-1980s. Other commercially important species included the kelp Laminaria schinzii and the agarophyte Suhria vittata.

Looking forward, Namibia is positioning itself as a leader in offshore kelp cultivation, specifically targeting the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera. A major development initiative aims to produce over 70,000 tonnes of kelp annually by 2030, creating 1,500 jobs and generating products such as alginates, textile fibers, and pharmaceutical molecules, while sequestering an estimated 1 million tonnes of CO2 per year.

Seaweed Connections in Namibia

Kelp Blue