The Philippine seaweed industry
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Abstract
A brief outline is given of the Philippine seaweed industry, which involves mainly the red seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii, produced as a source of the semi-refined or Philippine natural grade (PNG) carrageenan. Other species cultured and marketed include: Gracilaria changii, G.firma, G.heteroclada, G.manilaensis and G.tenuistipitata. The Philippines has the largest carrageenan refinery in Asia. However, production of seaweeds is rather eratic, which is attributed to the following factors: 1) indiscriminate harvesting, seasonal abundance of different species in different areas and lack of proper management; 2) shortage and deteriorating quality of seedlings, especially for Kappaphycus; and 3) natural calamaties.
Description
Already published in the Assessment Reports - (Philippine) Export Winners, published by the Department of Science and Technology in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme, 1997.
Suggested Citation
Hurtado-Ponce, A. (1998). The Philippine seaweed industry. SEAFDEC Asian Aquaculture , 20(1), 13. http://hdl.handle.net/10862/1788
Type
magazineArticleISSN
0115-4974Koleksi
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Navigating risks and uncertainties: Risk perceptions and risk management strategies in the Philippine seaweed industry
(Elsevier, 2021-04)The Philippine seaweed industry is affected by multiple but interrelated risks. Farmers mainly encountered environment-related risks (e.g. disease, pest infestations) which, if unmanaged, could result to production failure. Traders and processors considered volatility of seaweed supply and poor quality of raw materials as precursors of other risks such as increased competition among local traders and processing companies. Gender differences in awareness and knowledge of risks were more prominent among seaweed farmers but not among traders and processors as roles become more homogenous up the value chain. Poor governance resulted in the adoption of informal and market-driven strategies to prevent or minimise losses. However, this restricted farmers to participating in higher-income trading and processing activities and contributed to increased market inefficiency. The lack of government support has also curtailed the capacity of traders and processors to engage in product development and diversification. Gender and community experiences influence and shape people’s understanding of their situations and environment including their coping and adaptive strategies in sustaining livelihoods amidst recurring risk events. Embedding informal structures and the differential needs of the stakeholders in the national institutional framework is therefore essential for the promotion of resilient and sustainable seaweed industry. -
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(Aquaculture Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center, 1991)
