Understanding the State of the World’s Seaweeds and what must be done to protect them

Seaweeds and their associated habitats are vital for the health of the planet and are increasingly recognised for their significant ecological and economic importance. Seaweed habitats are diverse, ranging from kelp forests to rhodolith beds, and efforts to study, manage and protect them tend to occur in isolation, despite their interconnectivity and reliance on each other. Therefore, there have been no comprehensive assessments on the status of seaweeds globally and no global unified conservation goals exist to protect seaweeds to date. This is in direct contrast with other marine habitats, such as mangroves or coral reefs. The State of the World’s Seaweeds Report brings together our current understanding of the diversity, distribution, importance, threats, status, and current protection measures surrounding seaweed habitats globally. This document will form the knowledge base for the Seaweed Breakthrough, an initiative to set measurable and science-based targets to rally public and private actors in a shared vision to ensure the survival and prosperity of seaweed habitats and the seaweed industry for generations to come. This presentation will describe the contents of the State of the World’s Seaweeds report and highlight its key take home messages, including the major knowledge gaps that need to be urgently addressed in relation to seaweeds. This presentation will also outline how this report is being used to inform the targets of the Seaweed Breakthrough.