藍金轉型戰

印尼政府正式啟動國際熱帶海藻研究中心建設計畫，選址於西努沙登加拉省東龍目縣艾卡斯灣（Ekas Bay），此舉被視為推動藍色經濟轉型、強化海洋產業附加價值與提升區域經濟韌性的關鍵戰略布局。

根據副高等教育、科學與技術部長史黛拉・克莉絲蒂指出，印尼目前約占全球熱帶海藻市場75%，在產量上居於主導地位。然而，儘管全球海藻產業年產值已達120億美元，印尼長期以來仍以出口初級原料為主，產業價值鏈升級相對有限。新設立的研究中心，目標正是縮小研發與產業落地之間的落差，協助印尼從原料供應國轉型為高附加價值產品開發與創新樞紐。

Indonesia has officially launched the development of the International Tropical Seaweed Research Center in Ekas Bay, East Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara, marking a strategic move to accelerate blue economy transformation, enhance marine-based value creation, and strengthen regional economic resilience.

According to Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie, Indonesia currently accounts for approximately 75 percent of the global tropical seaweed market, placing it in a dominant production position. However, despite the global seaweed industry generating around US$12 billion annually, Indonesia continues to rely heavily on exporting raw materials, with limited downstream value addition. The new research center aims to bridge the gap between research and industrial application, supporting Indonesia’s transition from a raw material supplier to a developer of high-value, innovation-driven seaweed products.

根據印尼統計局（BPS）數據，西努沙登加拉省2023年海藻產量超過69.3萬噸，產值約1.65兆印尼盾，2024年進一步增至70萬4,810噸，位居全國前五大產區之一。其中松巴哇、比馬與東龍目為主要生產區，艾卡斯灣更被定位為潛在藍色經濟示範區。

Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) indicate that seaweed production in West Nusa Tenggara exceeded 693,000 tons in 2023, valued at approximately Rp1.65 trillion, and increased to 704,810 tons in 2024. The province ranks among Indonesia’s top five seaweed-producing regions, with Sumbawa, Bima, and East Lombok serving as key production areas. Ekas Bay has been identified as a potential blue economy hub.

然而，高產量並未完全轉化為漁民收入與區域繁榮。優質組織培養種苗供應不足，仍需分配至峇里、東努沙登加拉與蘇拉威西等地；氣候變遷亦加劇「ice-ice disease」蔓延，導致全國產量下降約10%至20%。National Research and Innovation Agency（BRIN）目前正研發可耐攝氏2至4度升溫的耐熱品種，但多數技術仍停留於實驗室階段，尚未大規模應用於養殖現場。

Nevertheless, high production volumes have not automatically translated into broad-based prosperity. The supply of high-quality tissue-cultured seedlings remains limited and must be distributed across regions including Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, and parts of Sulawesi. Climate change has further intensified the spread of ice-ice disease, reducing national production by an estimated 10–20 percent. The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is currently developing heat-resistant strains capable of tolerating temperature increases of two to four degrees Celsius, though much of the innovation remains at the laboratory stage.

新研究中心將在國際合作框架下運作，合作機構包括University of California, Berkeley與Beijing Genomics Institute（BGI），並獲得數十億印尼盾資金支持。中心將不僅是科研設施，更定位為「活體實驗室」，結合生產測試、氣候韌性研究與熱帶生質資源開發。

除主要栽培的卡帕藻（Kappaphycus，卡拉膠原料）外，艾卡斯灣亦具發展Caulerpa、Ulva與Halymenia等品種潛力，可應用於食品、藥品、生質塑膠及生物刺激素等高值產品。根據國際研究機構預測，非水膠體類海藻市場2024年估值為43.6億美元，2034年可望成長至128.5億美元；世界銀行更預估僅海藻飼料市場至2050年即達64億美元規模，顯示下游市場潛力龐大。

Operating within an international collaboration framework, the research center partners with institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley and the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI), supported by billions of rupiah in funding. It is designed not merely as a research facility but as a living laboratory integrating productivity trials, climate resilience studies, and tropical biomass innovation.

不過，專家指出，研究若缺乏完善產業生態系統支撐，恐流於紙上成果。與University of Mataram及BRIN的技術合作將是關鍵，研究內容需回應漁民實際需求，包括優質種苗供應、氣候調適技術與改善掠奪性借貸循環的行銷模式。

Beyond Kappaphycus - the primary raw material for carrageenan - Ekas Bay also offers potential for cultivating Caulerpa, Ulva, and Halymenia varieties, which can be developed into food products, pharmaceuticals, bioplastics, and biostimulants. International market research estimates that the non-hydrocolloid seaweed market was valued at US$4.36 billion in 2024 and could grow to US$12.85 billion by 2034. The World Bank projects that the seaweed-based feed market alone could reach US$6.4 billion by 2050, underscoring significant downstream opportunities.

此外，沿海治理亦不可忽視。土地開發導致侵蝕與水質混濁，部分養殖區已因水質惡化被迫遷移。海藻對沉積物與污染高度敏感，若缺乏有效海岸空間規劃與水質監測，即使最先進實驗室亦難以取得健康樣本。

However, experts caution that research without a supportive business ecosystem risks remaining theoretical. Collaboration with the University of Mataram and BRIN will be essential to ensure that innovation addresses farmers’ practical needs, including access to high-quality seedlings, adaptive cultivation techniques, and fair marketing models that break cycles of predatory lending.

印尼政府強調，未來發展須兼顧科技創新、環境永續與社會包容。透過合作社制度、公平夥伴關係與包容性融資設計，確保加工產業與投資資本不致排擠在地漁民利益。

Coastal governance also remains critical. Land conversion has increased erosion and water turbidity, forcing some cultivation sites to relocate. Given seaweed’s sensitivity to sedimentation and pollution, effective coastal spatial planning and water quality monitoring are prerequisites for sustainable development.

整體而言，艾卡斯灣國際熱帶海藻研究中心的建設，象徵印尼從「產量導向」邁向「價值與創新導向」的藍色經濟轉型。關鍵挑戰在於能否有效銜接科研、政策與產業應用，使海藻產業真正成為提升國家經濟韌性與沿海社區繁榮的核心引擎。

Ultimately, the establishment of the International Tropical Seaweed Research Center in Ekas Bay symbolizes Indonesia’s shift from a production-driven model toward a value- and innovation-driven blue economy. The key challenge lies in effectively integrating research, policy, and industry to ensure that the seaweed sector becomes a cornerstone of national economic resilience and coastal community prosperity.