THERE ARE over 70 species of sargassum in the Philippines, and that could potentially make thousands of seaweed farmers rich, if only the government could learn how to manage the whole process of breeding, harvesting, processing and marketing more efficiently.
Due to reports of overharvesting in some areas, however, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has chosen to totally ban harvesting in those areas, very much affecting the livelihoods of the seaweed farmers there.
As I see it, the banning of sargassum harvesting should be a moving target, based on empirical data that could be gathered in specific time periods in specific areas, using either satellite data or drone data or a combination of both.
This should be an easy thing to do by using available technologies, but it seems that the BFAR decided that it was easier to just ban the harvesting absolutely, even if there could be an abundance of it in some places at certain times. That is actually the lazy thing to do, just like throwing the baby along with the bath water.
In some foreign countries where the periodic abundance of sargassum actually happens, the local people have found ways to make use of the surplus, such as making hollow blocks or bricks for constructing affordable housing.
Again as I see it, the high quality sargassum could be processed into animal feeds, fertilizers and food additives among others, and the low quality sargassum or the by-products of processing could be used to make hollow blocks or bricks.
While the manufacturing of hollow blocks or bricks could be a good source of livelihood for coastal communities, these two products could also enable the local people to build more durable housing.
Of course, the new housing could also be more sustainable, compared to their very vulnerable houses made of raw materials.
The use of these stronger materials could be done slowly by way of home improvement, until the houses are completely renovated.
By using satellite data or drone data, we will be able to know where the sargassum are found, and whether these are abundant or not.
If these are abundant, why not lift the harvesting bans even if temporarily at times, so that the seaweed farmers could earn, even if temporarily?
Perhaps this is a decision that should also involve not only the Department of Environment and Natural Resources but also the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Trade and Industry./PN
