The Philippines is strengthening its position as a global leader in seaweed production through the Enhanced Philippine Seaweed Development Program (EPSDP). 

This initiative emphasizes sustainability, innovation, and community empowerment to improve production, post-harvest processes, and market access, benefiting farmers, coastal communities, and the national economy.

Seaweed, a key agricultural export, holds significant economic value. With renewed efforts to expand the industry, the Philippines is poised to meet rising global demand while improving local livelihoods.

Despite its potential, the seaweed industry faces several challenges that threaten its continued growth. 

To explore how the Philippine government plans to address these obstacles and maximize the sector’s impact, Maritime Fairtrade interviewed Nazario Briguera, spokesperson for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), who provided insights into the EPSDP’s objectives and the vision for revitalizing the industry.

Can you explain the objectives of EPSDP and its expected impact on the local economy?

The EPSDP for FY 2025 aims to enhance the seaweed production across regions to increase overall seaweed yields and contribute to the Philippines’ position as a leading seaweed producer.

The EPSDP seeks to bolster the country’s seaweed industry by promoting sustainable seaweed production, and improving post-harvest practices as well as market access. Furthermore, by addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the seaweed sector, the EPSDP’s ultimate goal is to create a thriving and sustainable industry that benefits farmers, communities and the nation’s economic growth as a whole.

How does the BFAR view the importance of seaweed as an agricultural export for the Philippines?

The BFAR places great importance and priority on the development of the industry and production of seaweed, which is consistently one of the top three exports of the Philippine fisheries sector.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, the industry produced around 1.6 million metric tons of fresh seaweed in 2023, which resulted in the production of about 228,570 metric tons of seaweed products having a total value of P12.7 billion pesos (US$218.60 million).

Can you elaborate how EPSDP’s P1.06 billion budget will be allocated and the priorities for seaweed industry development?

The EPSDP’s budget shall be allocated on the following projects.

To increase the country’s seaweed production by five to 10 percent annually.

• Production and distribution of good quality seaweed propagules (a seed which gives rise to a new plant)
• Upgrading and/or establishment/rehabilitation of the BFAR-operated Seaweed Culture Laboratories to increase the production of lab-grown microplantlets for distribution of healthy propagules
• Establishment of seaweed nursery cages in strategic locations across the country for the production of good quality seaweed propagules
• Maintenance of BFAR-operated seaweed nurseries
• Distribution of farm implements (10,245 sets) to local seaweed farmers in aim to further expand production

To upgrade and provide modernized post-harvest equipment and facilities to seaweed farming communities.

• Provision of seaweed mechanical dryers
• Provision of seaweed warehouse
• To increase market protection and linkages
• Provision of seaweed carts to promote and showcase the various seaweed-based products in local markets and expand opportunities for seaweed business enterprise

What role do the new nurseries and culture areas play in expanding seaweed production, and what challenges do you anticipate in implementing these?

One of the major challenges facing seaweed production is the availability of seaweed seedlings at the start of planting season which lead to low production of raw dried seaweeds down the line. Seaweed farmers typically start the planting season with 100 to 150 kilograms of seedlings. Initial investments are limited due to financial constraints and high seedlings cost.

The establishment and maintenance of BFAR circular cages seaweed nurseries using laboratory-grown seaweed plantlets will address the issue of inadequate supply of good quality seaweed propagules especially during off season and devastation of seaweed farms due to impact of adverse weather conditions, typhoons and other related conditions.

What specific job opportunities might the seaweed industry expansion create, especially in regions identified for growth?

Aside from the usual carrageenan processors, there are also small and home- or community-based processors of value-added products for which its production is intermittent or seasonal due to lack of raw materials. The goal of pushing value-added products is not only for product diversification but also for income augmentation of the seaweed growers.

How will the new bioreactors aid in the aquaculture process, and what benefits will they bring in terms of sustainable seaweed farming?

The BFAR, through the operation of the Seaweed Culture Laboratories (SCL), has been mass-producing and maintaining Eucheumatoid propagules using micropropagation techniques. These propagules are eventually dispersed to BFAR-operated seaweed nurseries and requesting clients. The operation of the SCL is essential in ensuring a continuous supply of good quality Eucheumatoid propagules. 

However, there has been quite a challenge in maximizing the production capacity of the SCLs due to the high mortality rate of micropropagated sections, which is attributed to the use of improvised culture set-ups that are prone to contamination.

A potential solution to address this issue is the use of bioreactors, which allows for a closed and stable biosecure culture system for seaweeds. A bioreactor consists of vessels and an automated system that provides controlled optimum culture conditions such as temperature, pH, light, and other vital water parameters ideal for the growth of microplantlets, and most importantly, prevent contamination and maintain an axenic culture of seaweeds in the laboratory. 

This intervention shall pave the way for the modernization and upscaling of seaweed culture technology in the country, and thereby maximize the capacity of the SCLs to produce a sustainable supply of good quality Eucheumatoids.

How is BFAR planning to address the recent decline in seaweed output in the third quarter of 2024?

Some of the challenges hounding the seaweeds industry are the lack of good quality seaweed propagules as well as price volatility of raw dried seaweed. 

To address these, the BFAR shall conduct/provide the following interventions.

• Distribution of good quality seaweed propagules through upgrading of BFAR SCLs, establishment of Modular Seaweed Bioreactor to maximize the production capacity of BFAR SCLs, and establishment and/or maintenance of BFAR-operated seaweed nurseries
• Promotion of value-adding of raw dried seaweed through processing of semi-refine carrageenan/agar to increase income of farmers
• Establishment of seaweed warehouses with drying area in strategic locations for safe-keeping and bulk storage of raw dried seaweed
• Provision of seaweed carts in strategic areas to showcase the various seaweed-based products
• Operation of the EPSDP website/app to provide a real-time seaweeds price
• Creation/operation of the Philippine Seaweed Council to regularly discuss/address concerns of the industry

With seaweed farming areas expanding in regions like Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga Peninsula, what environmental considerations are being taken into account?

Introduction of new seaweed farming techniques to mitigate the environmental impact of the use of plastic straw and promote sustainable seaweed farming.

Can you discuss the potential impact on local communities, especially coastal areas, where seaweed farming will expand?

Seaweed production in the Philippines is characterized as a family enterprise that is often situated in the most economically depressed areas of the country. 

The Department of Trade and Industry registered about 200,000 fisherfolk households or approximately one million individuals, dependent on seaweed culture as an alternative source of livelihood. With the expansion of seaweed farms, the sector offers a vast opportunity for employment generation and inclusive growth and development.

How does the BFAR envision the growth of the seaweed industry contributing to the Philippines’ foreign exchange earnings in the coming years?

The country is benefitting from the rising global demand for carrageenan and will continue to benefit from the favorable outlook for the global carrageenan industry. Seaweeds and carrageenan consistently ranked as one of the top three exports of the Philippine fisheries sector. 

In 2022, seaweeds and carrageenan came second to tuna with a recorded total export volume of 48,891 MT (17.30 percent) and export value of P19.03 billion (28.80 percent). Carrageenan remains the major product being shipped abroad, comprising 94 percent of the total seaweed export value in pesos. 

The U.S., People’s Republic of China, Spain, Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Australia, India and the UK and Northern Ireland are the top ten markets for Philippine seaweed products in 2022.

Photo credit: Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Nazario Briguera, spokesperson, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.