Lagos State Government has sponsored the research on harnessing Sargassum (seaweed) for entrepreneurship development in coastal fishing communities in the State.
The Honourable Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. Hakeem Fahm, in a statement, said that the research will consider taking active balanced steps to recognise the challenges and minimise the impact of sargassum seaweed while maximising its benefits.
He added that the State Government approved the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Sargassum Research (CESAR) located in the Lagos State University, Ojo, to champion the research, stressing that the project is being sponsored by the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
Fahm said that the research will look into the management and utilisation of sargassum for the empowerment of fishing communities in Nigeria and other countries where it has hitherto been perceived as a nuisance, noting that the process of harnessing sargassum for entrepreneurship in coastal communities is presently ongoing.
His words: “The research will also examine the taxonomy, geography and distribution of the sargassum worldwide, evaluate the impact of the sargassum weed on fisheries and other means of livelihood in the coastal communities, explain the economic, medicinal and other values of the sargassum weed”.
The Research, according to him, would be championed by Prof. Martin Anetekhai, a distinguished Professor of Fisheries at LASU and a member of LASRIC.
Fahm stated that there is a need to encourage community support for the project, adding that the surest way to achieve the task is through adequate community response and partnership among the private business owners and the government.
The Commissioner said Lagos State will remain committed to promoting scientific research and activities in the public and private sectors through innovations in science and technology.
Sargassum is an aquatic weed. It can live and reproduce rapidly while floating freely on the surface of fresh water. It is arguably ranked one of the most toxic aquatic weeds, which continues to spread aggressively throughout temperate, tropical and sub-tropical climates.
Sargassum species are distributed throughout the temperate and tropical oceans of the world, where they generally inhabit shallow water and coral reefs.