PHILIPPINE COMMERCIALLY USEFUL SEAWEEDS

Seaweeds have always served as a source of nourishment for man and other marine life. Unknown to many, various seaweed extracts are useful in the manu­facture of pharmaceutical, textile and paper products.

The various species of commercially useful seaweeds in the Philippines are:

1. Eucheuma (gozo) is a red alga which is currently the most import­ant seaweed in the country. It abounds in the wide, shallow areas of the Sulu archipelago and other parts of the country.

The eucheuma is edible and may be eaten raw. From it can be ex­tracted carrageenin, a gelling, sus­pending, thickening or water-holding agent of various products such as ice cream, paints, cosmetics, tex­tile and rubber.

2.   Gracilaria (gulaman-dagat) is the ma­jor source of agar or gulaman. It has strong hydrophilic colloid and high gel-strength qualities. Fur­thermore, it is a bacteriological culture medium which can also be used for salads and fish meal.

3.   Gelidium (agar weed) is also known as sea fern. These abound in the intertidal and subtidal littoral zones. It is one of the sources of high quality agar and is very much in demand in Japan.

4. Porphyra (gamet) grows along the shores of Burgos, Aparri and other towns of Northern Luzon provinces. They are found in boulders that are sprayed by sea water. Of all the seaweeds, this type is said to be the most edible and can be utili­zed as livestock feed.

5.  Codium (Pokpokloj is found in Ilocos Norte and Cagayan. Although codium is low in food value, it is exceptionally high in potassium.

6.  Caulerpa (ar-arosip or lato). A study made by the University of Hawaii showed the possibility of  deriving some active alkaloids for medical use from this specie. It has low food value.

    7.    Sargassum, a brown alga, contains alginic acid which may be used in the production of commercial alginate chemicals and fertilizers.

    8.    Digenea simplex (bodo-bodo) is particularly useful in pharmaceuti­cal preparations such as macnin and helminal. It is an effective vermifuge.

    9.    Hypnea, a red seaweed, is another source of commercial agar. It can be eaten raw or dried.

  10.    Tubinaria is a brown alga which is a good source of alginic acid.

The technique commonly used in seaweed farming is the monoline method. Seaweed cuttings are tied at approxi­mately 20-25 cm. intervals to mono­filament lines instead of nets. Wooden posts are driven to the bottom, one meter apart in rows and 10 meters between rows. The lines are tied at both ends to posts parallel to each other and are kept at about 20 to 25 cm. from the bottom.