| Worldwide, several species of green, brown and red algae from the following genera; Laminaria, Porphyra, Undaria, Kappaphycus, Eucheuma, Gracilaria, Chondrus and Caulerpa have high economic value as food and source of raw material for manufacturing industrial seaweed colloids such as agar, aligns and carrageenan. These marine colloids have a wide range of applications in the food processing, gel, agricultural and textile industries. Other seaweed species are, to a lesser extent, useful as animal feed and fertilizer.;In Papua New Guinea, the use of seaweeds as food, source of industrial raw material, animal feed and fertilizer is negligible. Caulerpa is the only known seaweed presently used as a vegetable in traditional diets of various coastal people in West New Britain Province. The country however imports a large volume of manufactured products containing seaweed extracts; microbiological agar, processed foods like ice-creams, toothpaste and gels.;The potential for a greater utilization and exploitation of currently known economic seaweeds exists. Kappaphycus alvarezii, Eucheuma denticulatum and Gracilaria verrucosa have been identified as potential species for farming. These three species have been successfully grown in parts of Asia and the Southwestern Pacific. Kappaphycus and Eucheuma are tropical genera and have a greater potential for Papua New Guinea than Gracilaria. Caulerpa has limited potential due to limitations in its use as a food item.;Papua New Guinea with its tropical environmental conditions can support the growth of seaweeds. The country however lacks any serious seaweed resource information. It is recommended that algal floral surveys be done to determine the extent and usefulness of existing seaweed species. |
