In Palawan, a resilient system of seaweed farming

MANILA, Philippines — The presence of wide reef areas and coastal shelves in Palawan has made the province conducive to farming seaweed over the years. However, recent typhoons have exposed its vulnerability to extreme weather events.

In 2021, Supertyphoon Odette swept away the floating seaweeds of Palaweño farmers and resulted to about P3 billion in agricultural damages to the island province.

Faced with the challenge of rebuilding, the Amogues Fisherfolk Association, a group of seaweed farmers based in Sitio Amogues, Taytay, started working with WWF-Philippines under the Sustainable Seaweed Production in Northeastern Palawan Project.

READ: Strengthen support for seaweeds

Over the years, the farmers would tie seaweed seedlings to ropes with attached floaters, deposit the floating seaweeds in the open sea, and harvest them after 45 days. Ideally, they would re-tie the seaweeds monthly for them to grow as much as possible, but they often had to harvest and sell a portion to meet their immediate financial needs.

Harvesting the seaweeds before they reach their optimum weight leads to potential losses, including hefty operational expenses on return trips.

The association decided to build its own seaweed nursery with a floating guardhouse. The members would take shifts at the house, during which they would also tie seedlings, saving them time, energy, and expenses in return trips and renting spaces.

When there was no nursery, we were tying seedlings here (at the shore), and we had to pay for the space to harvest and plant. Today, we would tie the seedlings at the guardhouse... so our work became easier, said Jocelyn Ibanez, treasurer of the Amogues Fisherfolk Association.

Financial literacy

To manage their finances, the farmers also attended financial literacy training sessions and established a Group Savings and Loan Association (GSLA), allowing them to grow their savings while ensuring sustainable access to funds. Under the GSLA, members contribute monthly based on shares that accrue interest, and they would withdraw the pooled amount to meet their needs.

The GSLA also helps the farmers maximize the returns from the seaweeds. Instead of drying and selling a portion of their harvests, they now replant all of their yield so they can grow bigger. They also easily earn back the interest with the larger harvest.

Instead of immediately drying our seaweeds, we won’t need to move them because we’re able to borrow from the GSLA to provide for our kids’ allowances even when they go to college... We not only cut losses, but also increase our harvests, said Melvey Casio, a GSLA member.

For the Amogues Fisherfolk Association, building a resilient system not only involves new tools and facilities but also fostering a sense of community and trust among members. Through learning new skills and openly communicating about how to improve their practices, they have become more confident in their future.

“I gained a lot of knowledge, and I treat the lessons as something that I will carry with me when I get older. No amount of money can replace the knowledge I gained,” said Ibanez. /cb —Contributed

(2025/06/05-04:32)