THE Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources said it distributed P34.66 million worth of deep-sea seaweed nursery sets within the Zamboanga Peninsula.
It said 29 nursery sets were turned over to growers in Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga City and Zamboanga del Norte in October. Each set cost approximately P1.2 million and featured high-density polyethylene structures intended for deep-sea cultivation.
The package also included seedlings, nursery framing, anchor supports, floating systems, holding nets and drying and packing materials.
The materials are intended to help growers increase their output .
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said output needs to rise to boost the Philippines’ competitive position. The Philippines is the world’s fourth-largest seaweed producer.
“We must increase seaweed production to maximize income opportunities for our coastal communities while strengthening the Philippines’ share of the global carrageenan market,” Mr. Laurel said.
The Philippines helped pioneer the market through the commercial cultivation of Kappapcyus or carrageenan-producing red seaweed.
According to the National Seaweed Industry Roadmap, the annual production growth target between 2022 and 2026 is 2%. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that seaweed output dropped 3.3% in the second quarter. — Maria Mikaela H. Tormon