CMBP Improve Seamoss

 Seamoss cultivation is currently being promoted across different Eastern Caribbean countries such as St. Lucia, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad etc., because of its low impact on the environment, and low investment costs compared to terrestrial crop cultivation or even other forms of aquaculture. The seamoss industry itself has a great opportunity for growth, as seamoss is increasingly being recognized worldwide as having significant nutritional, energy and health benefits. Mayreau Explorers introduced the activity from Union Island approximately a decade ago. At the time, the Ashton Multi-Purpose Cooperative was conducting a sea moss project in the neighboring Union Island. Under CMBP, support was provided to the Mayreau Explorers multipurpose Cooperative to enhance the value chain for a sustainable sea moss product. More specifically the program will: a) Increase sea moss production capacity through the provision of material inputs (e.g., ropes, bottles etc.) to enhance output; b) assist the cooperative in improving overall operations by identifying target markets, developing new products (ice cream production), designing product packaging and negotiating sales agreements between buyer(s) and producers; and c) procure one ice-cream making machine to produce value-added generating higher income to the cooperative. Mayreau Explorers Multipurpose Co-operative (a local productive group made up of 20 members, 10 of which are women) undertook the production activity. Presently, 8 persons are directly involved in seamoss farming (4 male and 4 female). Since 2010, they have been farming seamoss to produce (using the raw seaweed) ice cream, rum punch, soft drinks (three different flavors) and a gel to serve as a thickening agent in sweets and cakes etc.). They became legally registered in 2015.