By RANOBA BAOA
The only seaweed exporter in the country hopes to secure a wet leasing licence to resolve inconsistent supply from their seaweed farmers to revive seaweed farming.
In a letter to the Department of Fisheries, in late March, Wee Kong Marine Products & Exporter Co Limited highlighted the potential of seaweed export to China, a major market.
Euchema Cottonii seaweed is used in the production of Carrageenan.
Carrageenan is an important product used in cosmetics, food processing and industrial uses, as well as a food source for those living in Indonesia and the Philippines.
Since 2009, the company’s hopes to revive the industry was ongoing but still unsatisfactory as major farmers in Ono-i-Lau and Gau were not meeting the supply.
No more than two tonnes of seaweed per month were exported and this the company noted was very low in comparison to Fiji’s capacity supply.
Country’s production capacity
The company notes that Fiji has the capacity to produce 300 tonnes of dried seaweed per month, while the total demand for the Chinese markets is 5000 tonnes per month.
Company partner and Marketing and Development manager Malakai Tuiloa said Fiji has huge potential if it is properly managed.
“The large sea water mass, 410 iqoliqoli pristine pollution-free is ideal for seaweed farming,” Mr Tuiloa said.
“Also taking into consideration that seaweed is environmentally friendly and the best alternative for overfishing.”
Mr Tuiloa noted the success of the industry in Philippines being a $10-billion industry and Fiji too can be a living example.
Notable benefits
“The recommended solution and the only way forward for Fiji to increasing seaweed production is for Government to create the enabling environment through the wet leasing policy arrangement with traditional custodians.”
This can be done through respective ministries and departments he noted.
Thanks to the department of fisheries and national planning and strategic development seaweed farming has been ongoing however more needs to be done to achieve higher yield, he said.
“This will give the investors/companies the confidence to carry out large scale seaweed farming and mass production of seaweed products in the remote rural coastal areas.”
Additionally it may counter issues like poverty, urban drift and social problems in urban centres, he advocated.
First large shipment since revival
Meanwhile the company is set to export 40 tonnes of the dried seaweed to China soon with this being the largest shipment since 2009.
“This will be our first biggest shipment to our markets in China and we hope that it will continue to increase with Government’s intervention and assistance.”
Prior to the company’s seaweed revival plans, the highest production was in 2000 where 500 tonnes was exported to China.
Wee Kong Manager Marine Products & Exporter Co Limited marketing and development manager, Malakai Tuiloa (left) and staff with dried seaweed ready for export. Photo: PAULINI RATULAILAI.