Indonesia, Feb. 20 -- On a calm morning in Ekas Bay, East Lombok District, West Nusa Tenggara, long stretches of seaweed lines break the surface of the clear water. Small boats move slowly across the bay as farmers inspect seaweed seedlings suspended beneath the waves.

For local residents, the scene is familiar. However, 2026 marks a new chapter as the Indonesian government begins developing an international seaweed research hub, a move expected to strengthen the coastal economy of West Nusa Tenggara and support the global seaweed industry.

Indonesia has broken ground on the International Tropical Seaweed Research Center, designed as a hub for global collaboration. East Lombok District was selected for its long-standing reliance on mari...