Development Strategy of Seaweed Aquaculture Business in Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia

Abstract

Seaweed is a main commodity in fisheries revitalization plan other than shrimp and tuna because it has some excellence, such as: export opportunities that are widely opened, price that is relatively stable, absence of trade quota for seaweed; simple cultivation technology that makes it easy-learned; short-term of cultivation cycle that gives profit fast; small amount of capital needs; seaweed belongs to unchangeable commodity because it has no synthetic changes; seaweed aquaculture is considered as labor-intensive business that requires some labors. Kupang Regency has potential area for seaweed aquaculture by 10.354,07 ha and newly-utilized area by 10 % in 2010. Seaweed aquaculture business in Kupang Regency is conducted by home industry. Government policy which is represented by Fisheries and Marine Services of Kupang Regency is still partially implemented. This study aims to acquaint development strategy of seaweed aquaculture business in Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Applied research method is survey, population of seaweed cultivators, while the applied data analysis is SWOT analysis. Result of analysis based on SWOT analysis shows that development of seaweed aquaculture ranks in first quadrant position meaning that applied strategy is Progressive or Aggressive strategy. Progressive development strategy of seaweed business can be carried out by: production harvest escalation, quality and continuity of seaweed increase, labor increment and area utilization, as well as government role increment in capital and institutional development.