SMS and Multimedia Messaging Service MMS are powerful tools for the buying and selling of RDS. A farmer or trader can e-mail a picture of the RDS to
larger traders, exporters or processors for preliminary assessment. • Education and training systems: Continuing education on GAPs for seaweed
farmers and training on quality control for workers and managers in processing plants are essential.
• Regional collection and distribution hubs: The establishment of these networks is essential to carrageenan processors for efficient sourcing of RDS and for local and
offshore marketing of the final product.
5.2 Education and RD
Further advancement of seaweed farming in the Philippines will require scientific and technological support. Farmers need to receive continuous education to keep them
abreast of the latest technology and to update their knowledge of seaweed biology, physiology and ecology to understand better how seaweeds interact with their
environment.
The RD programmes in a country must be designed with the needs of its various industries in mind. Although basic research is important, applied research must be
given greater weight. In the case of the seaweed industry, only a limited number of academic and non-academic institutions in the Philippines have been involved in RD,
which has resulted in the lack of human resources available to assist the industry with emerging production, technological and marketing challenges.
Most RD in the Philippines and the BIMP-EAGA region has been focused on Kappaphycus and Eucheuma simply because of the commercial importance and the
“flagship” status of Kappaphycus. However, it is also important to take advantage of the Philippines’ rich endowment in different seaweed species to explore and develop
the potential of other economically important seaweeds such as Gracilaria as a source of agar and agarose, Sargassum as a source of alginates, and Caulerpa as a sea vegetable.
Similarly, it is advisable to conduct research on rare species that could potentially yield new pharmaceuticals.
Except for SRC and RC, the seaweed industry in the Philippines has failed to develop significant product applications in the last 40 years. Additional uses for
seaweed need to be identified. For example, research conducted in other countries has shown that seaweed fertilizer could be derived from the sap of Kappaphycus. This
application could potentially be developed in the Philippines.
5.3 Expansion, intensification and diversification
Expansion of seaweed farming areas is feasible in some locations. For example, GIS- generated maps have revealed plenty of areas suitable for seaweed farming in Sitangkai
up to 15 m deep. Intensification of activities can be achieved in certain locations, particularly in areas where production is seasonal. However, intensification carries
the risk of bringing imbalances for farming areas that have reached the limits of their carrying capacity.
Polyculture, i.e. the farming of two or more different commodities within the same culture environment, has distinct advantages over monoculture, including the
potential for earning higher revenues. In particular, the integration of finfish, molluscs, crustaceans and seaweed, commonly known as integrated multitrophic aquaculture
IMTA, provides an environmentally friendly farming system with the potential to increase profitability in aquaculture by enabling the production of additional marine
crops.
As it is currently practised, the potential contribution of seaweed farming to diversified livelihoods in coastal communities has yet to be fully exploited. In the
majority of places visited during this study, seaweed farming was undertaken as the
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primary source of livelihoods, which was particularly true for the larger farmers. Seaweed farming is a labour-intensive endeavour that requires great dedication and
focused efforts from producers, leaving them little time for other activities. Farmers slow down occasionally only during planting owing to the unavailability of propagules.
It is the author’s opinion that seaweed farmers could benefit from the diversification of marine aquaculture in order to generate additional sources of income. This is
particularly important in view of the problems that occasionally beset seaweed culture.
The richness of the marine resources of Tawi-Tawi, Zamboanga Peninsula and Palawan could bring greater opportunities to the coastal inhabitants. However, these
opportunities need to take advantage of the new technologies developed at the research institutions. In this regard, the expertise of SEAFDECAQD in Tigbauan, Iloilo,
could be tapped to introduce marine aquaculture technologies to the seaweed coastal communities. In Sitangkai, pen culture of abalone could be introduced, while cage
culture of grouper, Napoleon wrasse and lobster could be promoted in Pangapuyan Island, Zamboanga. In general, sound IMTA systems could be introduced in the culture
areas, which would have Kappaphycus or Gracilaria as one of the major components.
Seaweed farmers currently engage in the gleaning of sea urchins Arena Blanco and Look Panyam, Zamboanga City, gathering of abalones Sitangkai, and gathering
of wild juveniles of groupers and Napoleon wrasse Pangapuyan Island, Zamboanga City; Tandu Banak, Sibutu, Tawi-Tawi. These activities are only seasonal and
conducted on a very small scale, but they acquire greater importance in times of low seaweed prices. International buyers Chinese from both China, Hong Kong SAR and
mainland China have begun to purchase live grouper and Napoleon wrasse in Tandu Banak, Sibutu. This trade has not emerged as a result of an introduced science-based
technology; instead, it is a product of the seaweed farmers’ own ingenuity. However, production could be increased provided farmers are given the opportunity to adopt
technologies developed from research.
5.4 Infrastructure and services
