ARMM, Zamboanga top seaweed producers

THE Philippines is one of the world's leading producer of Eucheuma seaweeds, next to China and Japan, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, particularly Tawi-Tawi and Sulu, and Western Mindanao (Zamboanga Peninsula) are top producers of seaweed.

The Philippines produces mainly food grade carrageen. Bulk of the processing plants is located in Cebu while four processing plants are in Mindanao, three in Zamboanga and one in Davao.

Of the estimated 116,000 seaweed farming families in the country in 2003, approximately about 60% are based in Mindanao or around 69,600 families. Raw seaweeds and carageenan dominated the country's exports.

Europe is the country's largest market for raw seaweeds (70%) and carrageen (55%). Specific country buyers of raw seaweeds include France, Hong Kong, Spain, USA and Denmark.

Carageenan buyers include UK, France, Denmark, USA and Netherlands. In a Seaweed Industry Cluster plan as presented by Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) XI Director George Campeon, chair of Seaweed Industry cluster and Ma. Belenda Ambi, division chief of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Campeon said seaweed is largely cultured in Mindanao accounting to about 54% of the national output in 2003 with total area planted in about 160,000 hectares, according to the Philippine Information Agency.

Of the 30 major exporters of seasweeds in the country, 10 are Mindanao-based. Of the total 30, twenty-two export dried seaweed; 10 semi-refined carageenan; and five refined carageenan.

In 2000, recorded export value for raw seaweeds was US$23 million, for semi-refined US$80 million and for refined US$26 million.

Among the regions in Mindanao, Davao region has the lowest utilization level of its potential seaweeds area. It only contributes a measly 0.12% of the total Mindanao production in 2003. Between 2003 and 2004, a growth of 80% in terms of production volume was recorded.

This growth level needs to be increased and sustained in view of the establishment of a seaweed processing plant in Davao City, which would have a maximum capacity of 1,000 metric tons per month if fully operational. (Press Release)