Fisheries Commodity ROAD MAP:

Department of Agriculture
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

SEAWEEDS
PCA BLDG., Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. Nos. 929-9597 Fax No. 929-8074
Website: www.bfar.a.gov.ph
E-mail: info@bfar.da.gov.ph
Prepared by:
Fisheries Policy and Economics Division,
Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
2010

Figure 5. Illustrated Map of the proposed 1,709 hectares
seaweed regional targets for 2009
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Seaweed is an important component of the marine ecosystem along with
the mangrove and coral reefs and can be viewed in two perspectives,
from its ecological value as well as its economic uses.
Seaweeds contributed about 34% to the total 2008 fisheries production,
with Regions IV-B, IX and ARMM as major producers. The steady increase
in production for the past five (5) years (2004-2008) can be attributed to
high market demand, better price and good weather condition that
encourage farmers to expand their areas for seaweed culture.
The industry employs between 100,000-120,000 manpower where 90%
are seaweed farmers and the rest are seaweed processors and traders.
The Philippines is one of the top producers of seaweeds in the world, and
aquatic plants next to indonesia (FAO 2007). Seaweeds are exported
either in raw forms (fresh or dried seaweeds) or processed forms (semi-
refined chips/carrageenan and refined carrageenan). The major
importing countries of seaweeds and its natural products are China, USA,
France, Korea, Rep of South and Belgium.
Despite the continuous increase in seaweed production and share in the
world market, the industry is beseeched with existing problems and
constraints. To address these problems and constraints, the DA-BFAR will
provide strategies and interventions which include, among others the,
e.g. expansion of seaweeds farming in traditional areas, introduction of
seaweeds farming in non-traditional areas, adopt appropriate
technologies to increase productivity, conduct of R & D, improvement of
post-harvest technologies.
 Commodity Roadmap : Seaweeds

II. OVERVIEW OF THE INDUSTRY Table 1. DA-BFAR Interventions with corresponding time frame, desired
results and target beneficiaries
The Philippines seaweed is highly
diversified among the flora in Asia- Interventions Time Desired Beneficiaries
Pacific regions. More than 800 species Frame Results
of seaweeds have been recorded in the
Philippines. The major commercial SEAWEEDS
seaweeds in the Philippines are
a) Expansion of seaweeds farming in 2005 - Increase Farmers/
Eucheuma, Kappaphycus, Gracilaria spp. traditional areas 2010 seaweeds processors
and Caulerpa lentillifera. Other b) Introduction of seaweed farming production
seaweeds with economic importance in non-traditional areas
are Codium, Gelidiela acerosa, c) Adopt appropriate technologies to Create job
increase productivity opportunities
Halymenia, Porphyra and Sargassum d) Conduct of R & D
spp. e) Establishment/Rehab and Improved
maintenance of seaweeds seaweeds quality
Seaweed farming used to be an alternative livelihood in the 80’s. It is now nurseries
f) Improvement of Post-Harvest Reduced post
emerging to be an important and major livelihood in the coastal areas,
techniques harvest losses Producers/
specifically in the Southern Philippines. Kappaphycus alvarezii and g) Establish semi-processing plants in processors
Eucheuma denticulatum are the major species cultivated where two strategic areas Introduction of
major culture methods are being used by the farmers namely; the fixed h) Promotion of seaweed and value-added to
bottom monoline and floating monoline. seaweed products producers
i) Credit facilitation /availment
j) Monitoring of seaweed price
A. Accomplishment k) Establishment and maintenance of Culture Seaweed
seaweed culture laboratories or laboratories farmers
Seaweeds Production , 2004 - 2008 indoor nursery in collaboration
with UP-MSI
1,800,000
1,600,000
1,666,556
1,400,000
1,468,906 1,505,070
in Metric Tons

1,200,000 1,338,597
1,000,000 1,204,808 Impact of the ¼ hectare seaweed nursery
800,000
600,000
400,000 A ¼ hectare seaweed nursery can serve one & a half (1.5) new hectares
200,000
-
seaweeds grow-out every cropping. There will be an estimated three (3)
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 croppings per nursery in twelve (12) months. With the establishment of
Year 832 seaweeds nurseries it can serve 2,232 hectares of grow out farms.
The estimated additional production from this intervention would be
144,984 MT (wet) or 20,712 MT (dry), valued at P1.2 billion at P60.00
Figure 1. Seaweed Production, 2004-2008 (source: BAS) per kilogram of dried seaweeds.

Commodity Road Map: Seaweeds 4 Commodity Road Map: Seaweeds 9

 Commodity Roadmap : Seaweeds

Figure 1. Seaweed Production, 2002-2006 (Source: BAS)

III. PROBLEMS/CONSTRAINTS/GAPS
Figure 1 shows that production of seaweeds is continuously increasing
The problems and constraints besetting the seaweed industry are of two (2) for the last five (5) years. The remarkable increased by 78% in growth
categories as follows: for the past years 2004-2008 can be attributed to high market demand,
better price and good weather condition that encourage farmers to
Local expand their areas for seaweed culture. It may also be noted that due
 Pollution in production areas to prevailing government interventions seaweeds production went up.
 Inadequate supply of dried seaweeds for processing leading to
processors’ losses
 Peace and order situation in seaweed-producing areas Figure 2. Seaweed Production by Region, 2008 (Source: BAS)
 Diseases affecting seaweeds (ice-ice)
 Inconsistency of the quality because the fisherfolk add foreign object
to gain more weight 700,000 657,159

600,000
Global 2008 Production
 Increasing competition in Eucheuma production with other countries 500,000
447,143

in metric tons
such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Africa 400,000

300,000
222,162
200,000
111,117
IV. STRATEGIES AND INTERVENTIONS 100,000
142 2,350
44,180
215
50,348
20,960 35,818 2,626 21,498
189
- 50,649
The Department of Agriculture,
through the Bureau of Fisheries and
Aquatic Resources will provide Region
strategies and interventions to help
address the prevailing problems and
Seaweeds contributed 34% to the total 2008 fisheries production. The
constraints of the seaweed
major producing areas of seaweeds are Regions IV -B, IX and ARMM.
industry.
The provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Palawan, Antique, Bohol,
Quezon, Zamboanga del Norte, Camarines Sur, Eastern Samar, Surigao
These interventions are aimed to
del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Lanao del Norte and Maguindanao
provide additional jobs, livelihood opportunities and increase income of
expanded areas for seaweed culture.
fisherfolks, increase production of seaweeds by ten percent from the
previous year, and promote value-added for aquaculture commodities for
export.

Commodity Road Map: Seaweeds 8 Commodity Road Map: Seaweeds 5

 Commodity Roadmap : Seaweeds

B. Supply Chain C. Primordial Market

Production Cost: Php 20/kg The Philippines is one of the top producers of seaweeds in the world,
and ranking third in aquatic plants (FAO 2007) has produced about 1.5
Seaweed Farmers
million metric tons valued at US $ 136.8, with China as the top
Php 60.00/kg (dry)
producer. About 26.2 million MT valued at 5.4 billion pesos was
exported to France, USA, China, Korea, Rep of South and Belgium.
Local Traders
Php 90/kg Php 90/kg

Viajeros Raw Exporters/Traders

FRANCE CHINA
4,871 MT 1,884 MT
Php 95/kg Local Processors/Exporters Php 95/kg U.S.A. KOREA, Rp
5,022 MT SOUTH
Php 100-115/kg 2,069 MT

Dried – 2000 $/mt BELGIUM

Foreign Markets SRC food grade - 12-14 $/kg 1,394 MT
Source: SIAP SRC pet food - 10-14 $/kg
Refined - 18-20 $/kg

Figure 3. Distribution Channel for Philippine Seaweed

Figure 3 illustrates the marketing channel of seaweeds. The high profit and
fast return on investment for seaweed culture motivates farmers to shift
from fishing into farming. The industry employs between 100,000-120,000,
90% of whom are seaweed farmers and the rest are seaweed processors
and traders. Commodity Quantity (MT) FOB Value FOB Value
(000’P) (000’ $)
Sixty-five percent (65%) of the total production are processed into semi- Seaweeds 13,423 1,121,718 25,361
refined chips/carrageenan, and thirteen percent (13%) are exported raw Carrageenan 12,825 4,275,689 96,669
(dried), and the remaining twenty-two percent (22%) are processed into
refined carrageenan (Source: SIAP). The low proportion of seaweeds that is
processed into refined carrageenan is attributed to high cost of production Figure 4. Seaweeds Top Export Destination (CY 2008)
and lack of technology.

Commodity Road Map: Seaweeds 6 Commodity Road Map: Seaweeds 7