Seaweed Farming

SPPI, through the assistance of the Regional and Provincial Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), re-established its seaweeds seedlings nursery in 2009. The first nursery was damaged by a typhoon.

The experience with the first nursery put the office in a lot of stress because of the human and environmental problems and constraints it faced. Despite the not so good experience, however, the nursery managers and SPPI’s technical officer for seaweeds pursued with the program because it showed a very promising social and economic returns on investment.

Their perseverance is now being rewarded! Despite all the threats of bad weather conditions, the nursery established in 2009 has survived and is now supplying seedlings to other seaweed farmers.

What this experience taught us is a valuable lesson of proper care and maintenance of the nursery as well as the correct site selection.

Currently, 10 farmers have planted seaweeds. Immediately, twenty (20) more are waiting for their turns to plant. We need farm capital of sixteen thousand pesos (P16,000.00) or three hundred fifty-five US dollars (US$355) to support each farmer or a total investment of seven thousand one hundred eleven dollars (US $7,111.00)

This amount will help 20 seaweed-farming households increase their income from three thousand pesos (Php3,000.00) per month to eight thousand pesos (Php8,000.00) or an increase in their monthly income of 160%.

We hope readers of this blog take an interest in finding out more about our seaweed farming activities and will find the generosity to help the seaweed farmers. Thank you.