SEAWEED FARMING

1. SEAWEED FARMING Presented by: EMELITO T. GIBE Regional Seaweed Action Officer BFAR IV-B (MIMAROPA)

2. STATUS OF SEAWEED INDUSTRY Historical Development -In early 60’s, discovered abundant supply of wild red algae (seaweeds) in Phil. Waters. -In 70’s, mariculture technology was successfully developed. -Since then, extensive farming became a major livelihood of seafarmers. Present Status, Prospects & Global Demands -tremendous & continuous demand of Phil. Seaweed for export market; -generates employment, provides alternative livelihood & improves family income (esp. in coastal communities) -2nd top export commodity after Tuna w/export value at Php 4,229,719,946.00 -World’ 2nd largest producer of aquatic plants; 2006 production was 1,468,906.01 MT (wet), 70.21% of total aquaculture production

3. BIOLOGY AND IMPORTANCE OF SEAWEEDS • Biology of Seaweeds • macrobenthic (large & attached) forms of marine algae • primitive, simplified structure • has no true roots, stems & leaves (is generally called “thallus”) • photosynthetic • red, green, yellow-green, light tan to dark red to brown in color • naturally grow in coral reef areas

4. Importance of Seaweeds *Ecological- serves as primary producers in marine ecosystem - serves as habitat & breeding ground *Economic - source of human food - utilized as fodder & fertilizer -Source of raw material for phycocoloid production a.) carrageenan – for milk, candy, lotion, toothpaste, shampoo, beer, soap CARRAGEENAN b.) agar – used as thickener, emulsifier, gel, forming agent, lubricant, bacteriological culture media c.) algin – used in medicine as antibacterial and ointment

5. SITE SELECTION & METHODS OF FARMING Site Selection • Free from fresh water run-off • Clear and clean water • >30 ppt salinity • Moderate water movement/current • Sandy or rocky bottom to corally substrates • Should not be exposed during low tide • Protected bays • Presence of wild stocks Methods of Farming • Broadcast method • Tubular method • Spider Web method • Bamboo Raft method (floating) • Fixed Monoline method (stake) • Multiple Longline method (floating) • “Lantay” method (for nursery) • Trianglar

6. SEAWEED DISEASES & HEALTH MANAGEMENT Seaweed Diseases 1.) “ice-ice” – thallus becomes whitish in color, eventually causing affected parts to break off. 2.) pitting – occurs at cortical layer wherein cavity is formed due to mechanical wound 3.)”tip darkening” – due to senescence (old age) & cold weather which result to loss of color 4.) “tip discoloration” – due to aerial exposure & intolerance 5.) epiphytism & algal parasitism– larval mollusk attached hinges to the thallus, presence of pigmented algae (Rhodophytes), presence due to slow water movement/ turbid water. 6.) Presence of micrograzers and macrograzers COMMON DISEASES OF SEAWEEDS MICROGRAZERS & MACROGAZERS

7. General Health & Farm Management 1.) Visit farm daily 2.) Keep cultured seaweeds always clean 3.) Check & prune ice-ice infected portion of cultured seaweeds 4.) Tighten loose lines and tie-ties 5.) Repair or replace all broken/damaged materials (bamboo,monolin) 6.) Adjust monolines if necessary 7.) Keep a record of daily observation (weather condition, growth data, abnormalities)

8. PREPARATION OF MATERIALS & SEAWEED PLOT Preparation of planting materials 1.) Cultivation Rope – monfilament #110 test lbs, polyethylene rope (PER #6-7), flat binder 2.) Tying Mat’ls – soft plastic rope (“tie-tie”), monofilament #160 test lbs 3.) Support Mat’ls – bamboo, mangrove post, steel bar, PE rope #12/Polypropelene rope #14 4.) Floater – styrofoam (square or round shape), empty plastic bottles Preparation of “Seedlings” - select young branches using sharp edge knife - tie individual plant using soft plastic rope - immerse plant in seawater to prevent desiccation - “Seedlings” 100-150 per cutting

9. CONTINUATION… Installation of monolines, bamboo raft & stakes - install needed structures whether staking or floating method prior to planting - in fixed off-bottom longline, bull hammer is used to pegged stakes to bottom HARVESTING & POST-HANDLING OF SEAWEED Harvesting - seaweeds are harvested for drying after 40-60 days of culture - 3 ways of harvesting: 1.) individual plant is untied/cut 2.) both ends of cultivation rope is untied 3.) whole single bamboo raft is brought to shoreline

10. CONTINUATION… Post-Harvest *Cleaning – clean thoroughly from foreign materials the newly harvested seaweeds *Drying – ground solar drying & hanging method *7:1 (kilos) – wet to dry ratio DO’s in drying - dry immediately after harvest - keep seaweed always clean - sun-dry for 2-3 days - maintain moisture content at 35-39% DONT’s in initial drying - avoid contact w/sand, dust and dirt - avoid steaming - avoid contact w/freshwater Storage - stored in shortest time possible in clean, cool, dry & well-ventilated places

11. COST & RETURN ANALYSIS (Multiple Longline/Floating Rope Method, 25m x 100m) Material Cost 2 rolls P.E. Rope, #18 (9mm) @Php 1,100.00/roll Php 2,200.00 15 rolls P.E. Rope, #8 (4mm) @Php 240.00/roll 3,600.00 4 pcs. Styrofoam Floats (16” dia.)@Php 600.00/pc 2,400.00 12 pcs. Round Styrofoam Floats (8” diameter) @Php 210.00/pc 2,520.00 5 kilos used styrofoam floats @Php 20.00/kilo 100.00 10 rolls soft-tie plastic twine @Php 60.00/roll 600.00 30 pcs. Empty Sacks @Php 8.00/sack 240.00 980 kilos seaweed seedling @Php 15.00/kilo 14,700.00 TOTAL Php 26,360.00

12. Basic Assumptions: Days of Culture --------------------------------- 75 days Croppings Per Year ------------------------------- 4 Length of Cultivation ---------------------------- 25 meters No. of Lines Per ¼ Hectare ------------------------ 100 lines Distance Per Seedlings ---------------------------- 10 inches Distance Per Cultivation Line --------------------- 1 meter No. of Seaweed Seedlings Per Line ----------------- 98 No. of Seaweed Seedlings Per ¼ Hectare ------------ 9,800 Initial Weight Per Seedlings ---------------------- 100 grams Total Weight Per Seedlings ------------------------ 980 kilos Daily Growth Rate -------------------------------- 5% Total Harvest (net wt.) after 75 days ------------- 4,655 kls Seedlings for next Cropping ----------------------- 980 kls 2% Biological Loss -------------------------------- 93.1 kls Wet to Dry Ratio ---------------------------------- 7:1 Net Dry Weight Yield ------------------------------ 511.70 kls Total Harvest Per Year ---------------------------- 2,046.80 kls Price Per Kilo (dried) ---------------------------- P 37.00 SALES Php 75,731.60

13. CONTINUATION… LESS: Cost of Materials ---------------- Php 26,360.00 Depreciation Cost (20% of mat’ls cost)- 5,272.00 Php 31,632.00 NET INCOME Php 44,099.00 Return On Investment 139.41% Payback Period 0.71 year

14. REFERENCES: HURTADO, A.Q. and R.F. 2000 Agbayani. The Farming of Seaweed Kappaphycus. Ext. Manual #32. SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department. Iloilo, Philippines Seaweed Farming. Extension, Training & Communication Division (ETCD). Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources IV-B (MIMAROPA). Quezon City, Philippines. GALICIA, A.M., Jr., et al. Introduction to Seaweed Farming. Seaweed Development Program (SDP). Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture Division. Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. Quezon City, Philippines.

15. THAT'S ALL FOLKS!