A value chain analysis of Malaysia’s seaweed industry

Abstract

A global shortfall in protein supply from capture fisheries has motivated the Malaysian government to revise its aquaculture strategy, focusing on three commodities: seaweed, fish and marine shrimp. However, the performance of the Malaysian aquaculture sector, particularly seaweed production, is poorly documented. This is the first empirical study to undertake a value chain analysis (VCA) of the Malaysian seaweed sector using stakeholder perceptions and secondary data that encompass members of seaweed farming cooperatives (the Semporna Area Farmers' Association and the governments' flagship Seaweed Cluster Project). Fieldwork was conducted between April and June 2015 among seaweed stakeholders involved in the value chain using a mixed methods approach-in-depth interviews with key informants, focus group discussions, household surveys, personal observation and secondary data. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from both upstream (seaweed farming, marketing structure and the Malaysian Good Aquaculture Practices [MyGAP] certification programme) and downstream (seaweed processing) activities involving farmers, intermediaries/middlemen (buyers), processors and officials. Kappaphycus spp. was sold in two forms: (1) dried seaweed to be used as raw materials in carrageenan processing (approximately 90% of total harvest) and (2) fresh seaweed to be used as a source of seedlings (approximately 10% of total harvest). The value chain ended with the carrageenan form, which is exported to international markets. The price of dried seaweed varied according to a combination of seaweed quality, the strength of farmer's relationships with intermediaries and processors and in response to demand from the carrageenan industry. The prices obtained by Malaysian farmers for dried seaweed and carrageenan remained low, US$ 0.60 and US$ 4.43 per kg, respectively, despite efforts by the government to enhance the value chain by imposing seaweed standards (via MyGAP) for farm management, dried seaweed and semi-refined carrageenan. The VCA was a useful tool to identify and map the market, with the results providing a better understanding of the seaweed sector, which could be helpful in supporting further aquaculture development in Malaysia.

Elevated Concentrations of Metal(loids) in Seaweed and the Concomitant Exposure to Humans

“…The DI of metals for adults was calculated using the following Equation (2): with C metal the mean metals concentration (mg/kg dw) in each sample, C R the consumption rate, and BW the average body weight for an adult population, considered to be 70 kg [ 14 ]. Year 2018 Malaysian fisheries sector data for capture fisheries and aquaculture show respective production of 1.48 million ton and 397,000 metric ton, macroalgae (seaweed) being the major aquaculture contributor (31% by weight) [ 28 ]. The same study reported the export of the majority of seaweed produced in Malaysia to East Asian countries, including China and the Philippines.…”

“…In this regard, in order to protect the consumer, regular surveys of toxic metals in seaweeds and estimation of health risk need to be considered. Considering that consumption of food is the major source of heavy metals exposure/bio-accumulation in the body, this study has sought to assess the levels in seaweed of the metals 19 K, 20 Ca, 12 Mg, 82 Pb, 48 Cd, 34 Se, 13 Al, 25 Mn, 29 Cu, 30 Zn, 26 Fe, 33 As, 11 Na, 28 Ni, 24 Cr, 47 Ag, and 14 Si, with use being made of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). An additional aim was to estimate the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks of metals exposures to the Malaysian population/consumers.…”

Impact of elevated temperature on the physiological and biochemical responses of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta)

“…In an effort to improve the economic value, seaweeds are made into Semi Refined Carrageenan (SRC), via a process to meet the quality standards of food (food grade) [ 6 ]. The price of seaweed could reach US$ 3.50 to US$ 5.50 per kg once processed into SRC and the value of seaweed carrageenan increases to US$ 9 per kg after Refined Carrageenan (RC) production [ 7 ]. Carrageenan is used in a variety of commercial applications as gelling, thickening, and stabilizing agents, especially in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries [ 8 ].…”

El extractivismo de las algas pardas en el norte de Chile

“…La cadena se basa en la subcontratación y en distintos arreglos formales e informales entre compañías, actores independientes e intermediarios de diversa índole, constituyendo "fragmented but linked economic niches" (Tsing 2009: 159). Las compañías que incorporan valor a las algas se apropian de la mayor parte del valor, aun cuando los intermediarios y actores locales son imprescindibles en la cadena productiva (Nor et al 2019;Tsing 2015;Challies & Murray 2010;Topik, Marichal & Frank 2006). En la cúspide del tramo local se sitúan los exportadores, compañías chilenas de tamaño medio-grande, muchas de ellas con participación de capital europeo y, principalmente, japonés o chino.…”