If you’ve ever caught a boat in the Benoa Harbour, checked out Turtle Island or perhaps crossed over to visit the islands of Lembongan or Nusa Penida – you will most likely have noticed the local Balinese wading into the ocean with a raft or bag in tow, collecting seaweed.  More noticeable when you get over onto the islands of Lembongan or Penida when you see the beds of seaweed on the shorelines, drying.

Seaweed is big business in Bali, in 2010 they actually exported 150,000 tonnes of the stuff!  The seaweed is farmed to be exported for edible products, with the biggest orders headed for the United States and Japan.

Seaweed farming was an opportunity that was presented to the local fisherman a few years ago as an alternative source of income, due to the over-fishing and destruction of the coral reefs.  Considering that seaweed pays almost double what fishing does, the idea has taken off!  In 2009, just over 100,000 tonnes was cultivated, so the last 12 months has seen a very sharp increase in production!

Experience the REAL Bali – take a tour with a local and experience the best this beautiful island has to offer.