Seaweed Development Program

The Philippines has abundant aquatic resources where seaweed is one of these  aquatic products found in lagoons and reed areas all over the country. The  country is one of the few in the world which pioneered in the farming of these  plants in substantial quantities. Seaweed is a good source of colloidal materials  used as gelling agents, emulsifiers, stabilizers, in pharmaceutical, cosmetics  and food products. Seaweed also constitutes an important food item, fertilizer  and animal feed.

In support of the seaweed industry, a total of 701,509 kilograms of seaweed  propagules are targeted to be distributed to 1,322 individuals and 62 group  beneficiaries. A total of 446 sets of seaweed farm implements will be  provided to 446 individual beneficiaries.

Deserving seaweed farmers will be granted seaweed seedlings and farm  implements. For each individual beneficiary that has a farming area of at least  250m², 100 kgs of seedlings, 1 roll of #5 PE rope, 2 rolls of #10 PE ropes, 1 roll  of soft tie and 50 pcs of floaters will be provided. For the group beneficiaries  with at least ½ hectares of farming area, 100-200 kgs of seedlings for each  member, 2 rolls of #5 PE rope, 25 rolls of #10 PE ropes, 10 rolls of soft tie and  1000 pieces of floaters will be given.

In spite of the success of the seaweed industry in the country, problems still  beset seaweed farming such as declining farm productivity, poor quality of  seedlings, lack of post-harvest facilities, price fluctuations and proliferation of  diseases. To address these problems, the Bureau will continue implementing  the following projects and activities:

Also, for 2023, while at transition phase of the implementation of the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling, the  seedstock material for aquaculture (seaweed propagules for distribution), shall be a devolved function which BFAR  shall consider in the existing PAP of the Bureau. Capacity building of the clients of BFAR at the LGU levels which shall serve direct fisherfolk beneficiaries will be prioritized.

Establishment of Seaweed Nurseries

This program aims to establish 12 seaweed nurseries in both traditional and  non-traditional areas by providing ¼ hectare seaweed nursery that can  support 2 hectares of grow-out farm while maintaining 57 seaweed nurseries nationwide that will ensure premium quality of seaweed seedlings. Prior to  the full operationalization of the seaweed nurseries, test plots will be  established in selected sites where regular monitoring will be conducted.

Operation of the existing Seaweed Culture Laboratories

In support to the country’s seaweed industry, seaweed culture laboratories  were maintained to produce quality seedlings and to safeguard and accelerate  the seaweed industry. Currently, the Bureau is maintaining nine seaweed  tissue culture laboratories nationwide that are located in different areas:  Lucap, Alaminos, Pangasinan (Region I); Tuguegarao City (Region II); Baler,  Aurora (Region III); Nueva Valencia, Guimaras (Region VI); Ubay, Bohol  (Region VII); Guiuan, Samar (Region VIII); Zamboanga City (Region IX); Masao,  Butuan, Agusan del Norte (Region XIII); and Sorsogon (National Seaweed  Technology Development Center).