The Seaweed Information System (SIRULA): A Preliminary Concept and Integrated Design

Abstract

Seaweed is one of the fisheries commodities, which has been proven to improve the household income of coastal and small island communities in Indonesia for the last two decades. The global need for seaweed is rising, since it is used as a raw material for many industries, i.e.: food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, livestock feed, and fertilizers. These factors have encouraged the Government of Indonesia to increase the quantity and quality of seaweed commodities until it reaches a strategic position in the fisheries sector. One of the efforts in enhancing the data and information reliability, which will support all business actors from upstream to downstream; to accelerate the industrialization and production, resource sustainability, and improving the welfare of coastal and small island communities. This paper aims to provide an overview of the concept and design of seaweed information systems, based on the principles of traceability, sustainability, production process improvement, and system integration. It is expected that business actors, resources managers, and policymakers will take advantage of information system, where reliable data and information can be accessed easily in real-time.