Mapping the complex web of policies for seaweed industry development in Indonesia: What is the role of a national roadmap?

Governments across the globe have used a top-down approach through the launch of national roadmaps toward promoting sectoral development in the aquaculture sector. Understanding the policy complexity is critical for ensuring effective governance and creating a conducive investment climate. Learning from Indonesia's first-ever national seaweed roadmap outlined in Presidential Regulation 33–2019 and other policies, this study deploys a multi-step approach combining a policy review, semi-structured government and industry interviews, and a focus group discussion to review complex regulatory levels and policy areas influencing the seaweed industry. Specifically, it identifies, maps, and synthesises the country's multi-layers of policies from national to regional levels, across diverse critical policy areas such as coastal management, aquaculture and fisheries; trade, investment, and industry; and food and consumers through compiling a total of 67 policy documents. The study highlights the significant role of the country's national seaweed roadmap in reviving stakeholders' interest and shifting policy direction towards more targeted seaweed-specific policies. Challenges such as the decentralisation process, marine zoning, value chain, market, and investment dynamics, and the need for policy harmonisation exist. Nevertheless, there is strong support for continuing a national approach coupled with increased stakeholder engagement, improved monitoring and evaluation, and improved policy coordination. Moreover, a coherent policy approach within the broader scope of coastal management, aquaculture and fisheries and critical areas such as trade, investment and industry, youth and gender inclusiveness, as well as alignment with Indonesia's broader blue economy framework should be explored toward ensuring a sustainable and inclusive seaweed industry growth.