IN order for the country to reduce, if not eliminate, its dependence on Indonesia, it needs to increase its production of seaweeds by at least 15 percent.

Maximo Ricohermoso, Datingbayan Foundation and MCPI Corp. president, argued that the fisheries sector would require $3-billion funding from the government through its partner-international agencies, such as the Asian Development Bank, to help boost its production and expansion.

“Ten percent of the amount would be put in the seaweed industry,” Ricohermoso said at the sidelines of the Managing Marine Frontier (Fisheries) Forum on Monday.

Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development (PCAMRD) OIC executive director Cesario Pagdilao added that if this fund becomes available, it would significantly aid in the expansion of areas for production and backing seaweed farmers with quality seedlings.

“The country remains the No. 1 producer of carrageenan. However, Indonesia has overtaken the country in seaweed production, particularly of the Cottonii and Spinosum varieties. We are short of 25,000 metric tons [MT] [for Cottonii and Spinosum]. I’m pushing for the integrated seaweed production system,” Pagdilao, said, who presented the status and prospects of the seaweed industry in the Philippines during the forum.

The Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines sees a positive outlook for the industry in 2011 amid the challenges besetting the industry, Pagdilao noted in his presentation. This is because the US, considered the largest market for the product, has started to pick up orders. He also noted the diversification of the market through the gelatin industry and by developing new products such as seaweed capsules.

According to the 2009 Bureau of Agricultural Statistics data, the contribution of seaweed production to the fisheries and aquaculture sector totaled 1.739 million MT with an estimated value of P9.59 billion.

Moreover, the seaweed industry contributed 70.23 percent to the country’s total aquaculture production and 34.35 percent to the total fisheries production.

Of the 1,062 species of seaweeds found in the country, 50 percent are economically important, with 280 species considered edible. The bulk of seaweeds is processed for pharmaceutical, industrial and agricultural applications.        

Pagdilao pointed out that one of the problems that the industry faces is the low quality of seedlings. He pushed for improvements in the strains of the seaweeds through introduction of technology as such biotechnology, which his institution has started to do.

They have also established gene and seedling banks. With the existence of the seedling banks, aside from the nurseries of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, PCAMRD has an opportunity to evaluate the growth performance of the different strains of seaweed for them to see which of the strains have good potential growth at a particular area and distribute them to local seaweed farmers.

According to the Philippine Agriculture 2020 main report, there is increasing competition from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia. Research and development will play a key role in the future expansion and competitiveness of the seaweed industry.

“Somatic and protoplast fusion biotechnology methods need to be applied to develop cultivars of seaweeds with resistance to ice-ice disease, adaptation to different and changing water-quality conditions and higher yield potentials,” the report said.

Moreover, seedling nurseries will have to be established in strategic areas to supply seaweed farmers with clean, quality seed stocks. The seaweed farmers need to be organized to facilitate assembly and marketing of dried seaweeds. Proper farm-level drying facilities should be established to reduce postharvest losses and promote quality.

According to Pagdilao, the total farmable area for seaweeds is estimated at 255,000 hectares of which 59,000 hectares are currently exploited. The balance of 196,000 hectares can be used as potential seaweed farms.

The expansion of the seaweed industry will include areas for development in 14 new provinces that will complement the existing 36 provinces currently engaged in seaweed production.

“The seaweed industry is a good livelihood alternative for fisherfolks and it will help improve and regenerate our coastal resources,” Ricohermoso said.