The following table presents estimates of seaweed production for the years 1960–1974 by species groups, in wet weight terms, by all countries known to be harvesting seaweeds. The table is supported by a set of notes briefly describing the basis of the estimates where they differ from, or are additional to, those provided for publication in the FAO Yearbook of Fishery Statistics - Catches and Landings series.
Symbols
| R | denotes red seaweeds |
| Br | denotes brown seaweeds |
| Gr | denotes green or blue-green seaweeds |
| Misc. | denotes unclassified seaweeds and other aquatic plants |
| … | denotes amount not known |
| - | denotes no production |
| 0.0 | denotes less than 50 tons |
| ( ) | denotes broad estimate |
Table A - Country Notes
| AFRICA | ||
| Egypt | No estimates possible but for some years cast weed dried and exported, now used for gum extracts in local food canning (Michanek, 1975). | |
| Morocco | Species group classifications according to data from Office National des Pêches. | |
| Senegal | Rough estimate, based on Michanek (1975) | |
| South Africa | Based on data provided by Department of Fisheries, South Africa, converted from dry to wet weight. | |
| Tanzania | 1960–1970 data reported to FAO apparently on dry weight basis, converted at 1:5 to wet weight: 1971–73 based upon official data for dried weed exports, similarly converted to fresh basis. | |
| AMERICA, NORTH AND CENTRAL | ||
| Canada | Production reported as “miscellaneous” believed to be mostly brown algae (Ascophyllum and Laminaria spp.). | |
| Caribbean Islands | No data available but many references in the literature to the harvesting of various algae for food and fertilizers. | |
| Mexico | Data provided by Instituto Nacional de Pesca, red algae converted from dry to wet weight at 1:5. | |
| U.S.A. | Data for brown seaweed production reported to FAO are clearly, on evidence of other reports, only partial. Estimates presented in table are based on Silverthorne and Sorensen (1971) for 1970; Michanek (1975) for 1968 and Hunter (1975) for 1960 and 1964. | |
| AMERICA, SOUTH | ||
| Argentina | Data reported to FAO corrected on basis of statistics supplied by Secretaría de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente Humano. | |
| Brazil | Broad estimate based on (1973?) data for production of seaweed products (Michanek, 1975) and for the early 1970s (1970?) for exports of dried Hypnea. | |
| Chile | Estimates based mainly upon export data (in Jaramillo, 1975) | |
| Peru | Estimates based on (1968?) export data (Firth, 1969). | |
| ASIA | ||
| China | Crude estimates based on Michanek (1975) for 1960 and 1966. Silverthorne and Sorensen (1971) for 1970 and assumed continued growth for 1973. | |
| Hong Kong | Small-scale production reported by Michanek (1975). | |
| India | Rough estimates based on Rao (1970), Michanek (1975), his reference being assumed to be to tons of (dried?) red weed. | |
| Indonesia | Based on official export data, converted to wet weight. | |
| Korea, Democratic Peoples' Republic of | No information available but seaweeds almost certainly harvested. | |
| Korea, Republic of | Data as reported to FAO but species group classifications 1964–73, adjusted in light of detailed figures for 1973 from Embassy of Korea, Rome; 1960–63 species classification estimated by author. | |
| Malaysia | No data available but variety of seaweeds known to be used for food. | |
| Philippines | 1961–64 data as reported to FAO; 1966–74 estimates based on Caces-Borja (1974). Brown and green algae also known to be harvested. | |
| Sri Lanka | No data available but small quantities of algae, in particular Gracilaria, harvested for export and local consumption. | |
| Thailand | Data from Department of Fisheries reports, Bangkok. Furcellaria type, Michanek (1975). | |
| South Viet-nam, Republic of | Various algae, in particular Gracilaria, harvested for human and animal food (Michanek, 1975). | |
| EUROPE | ||
| Bulgaria | Production of alginates believed to be at pilot plant stage; output of 250 tons of algin envisaged for 1975 (Stevens, 1971). | |
| Denmark | 1960–67 data from Lund and Christensen (1968); 1969–74 from Litex Industri. | |
| France | Data reported to FAO appear to relate to dry weight and, in some respects, to be misclassified. Estimates here based on Chapman (1970) for 1960–67 and other sources (e.g., OECD) for later years. (They probably still tend to understate total French production which may be as high as 100 000 tons per annum.) | |
| Greece | Quantities, unknown, of Ulva and Corallina harvested (Michanek, 1975). | |
| Iceland | Rough estimate. References in the literature to use of weed for meal, fertilizer and (probably) alginates. | |
| Ireland | Based on Chapman (1970) for red weed (1960–67) and brown weed (1960–65). Estimate for 1967 brown weed harvest from An Foras Taluntais (A Seaweed Survey), Dublin. 1968–77 author's estimates. | |
| Italy | Gracilaria harvested for agar extraction (Simonetti et al., 1970); Cladophora harvested in Gulf of Taranto (Michanek, 1975). | |
| Poland | Various references to harvest of quantities of Furcellaria. | |
| Portugal | 1970 estimate from Palminha (1971); 1962–65 data reported to FAO believed to relate to dry weight and here converted to wet basis. | |
| Spain | Data reported to FAO believed to be dry weight basis, here converted to wet weight equivalent. | |
| OCEANIA | ||
| Australia | Rough estimates based on information from Department of Agriculture, Canberra. | |
| New Zealand | Based on Chapman (1970) and Michanek (1975). | |
| U.S.S.R. | 1961–64 (total) data as reported to FAO, breakdown into species group author's estimates; 1969 from Silverthorne and Sorensen (1971); 1973 author's rough estimate. All are probably under-estimated as harvest of very substantial quantities of Phyllophora (Black Sea), Ahnfeltia, Porphyra, Laminaria, etc., (Northwest Pacific) reported by various sources. | |
Table A - Production of Seaweeds and Aquatic Plants 1960–73
| thousands of metric tons wet weight |
| 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | |||
| AFRICA | |||||||||||||||||
| Egypt | Misc. | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| Madagascar | R | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 1.7 | |
| Morocco | R | 15.5 | 15.5 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 10.5 | 12.5 | 18.0 | 18.0 | 15.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 14.8 | |
| Br | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| Total | 17.0 | 17.5 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 11.0 | 13.0 | 18.0 | 18.0 | 15.0 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.0 | 14.8 | ||
| Senegal | R | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | (1.0) | (1.0) | |
| South Africa | R | … | … | … | … | 9.0 | 6.0 | 16.5 | 27.0 | 9.1 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 6.1 | 7.5 | 6.5 | (1.0) | |
| Br | … | … | … | … | 15.0 | 18.0 | 17.1 | 16.0 | 14.6 | 22.0 | 18.9 | 11.5 | 12.8 | 17.6 | (18.0) | ||
| Total | … | … | … | … | 24.0 | 24.0 | 33.6 | 43.0 | 23.7 | 28.5 | 25.7 | 17.6 | 20.3 | 24.1 | (19.0) | ||
| Tanzania | R | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.5 | (0.5) | |
| AMERICA, NORTH AND CENTRAL | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada | R | … | … | … | … | 12.8 | 18.0 | 23.4 | 36.2 | 39.9 | 44.2 | 48.2 | 36.7 | 24.9 | 34.2 | 60.2 | |
| Br | … | … | … | … | 6.8 | 7.0 | 6.6 | 7.9 | 6.6 | 9.4 | 6.3 | 4.7 | 8.3 | 5.7 | 7.2 | ||
| Total | 13.2 | 18.5 | 23.5 | 22.5 | 19.6 | 25.0 | 30.0 | 44.1 | 46.5 | 53.6 | 54.5 | 41.4 | 33.2 | 39.9 | 67.4 | ||
| Caribbean Is. | Misc. | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| Mexico | R | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 4.1 | 5.5 | 8.1 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 5.3 | 4.2 | 9.2 | (10.0) | |
| Br | 14.2 | 15.3 | 20.8 | 19.1 | 22.9 | 16.2 | 22.2 | 20.8 | 28.8 | 26.2 | 29.0 | 25.5 | 30.1 | 27.7 | 37.1 | ||
| Gr | … | … | … | … | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | - | 0.0 | ||
| Total | 15.5 | 16.7 | 23.0 | 20.7 | 24.7 | 20.3 | 27.7 | 28.9 | 33.8 | 30.4 | 34.2 | 31.0 | 34.4 | 36.9 | 47.1 | ||
| U.S.A. | R | 1.3 | 3.2 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 2.2 | |
| Br | (90.0) | … | … | … | (100.0) | … | … | … | (120.0) | … | … | (125.0) | … | … | … | ||
| Total | (91.0) | … | … | … | (102.0) | … | … | … | (123.3) | … | … | (126.4) | … | … | … | ||
| AMERICA, SOUTH | |||||||||||||||||
| Argentina | R | … | … | … | … | 8.6 | 14.8 | 27.9 | 29.6 | 22.8 | 19.3 | 20.4 | 19.8 | 19.2 | 21.4 | (21.4) | |
| Br | … | … | … | … | 1.6 | 5.0 | 1.7 | 3.1 | 1.7 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.7 | ||
| Gr | … | … | … | … | - | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.1 | - | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Misc. | … | … | … | … | - | 0.1 | 0.1 | - | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | ||
| Total | 0.9 | 10.1 | 9.0 | 8.3 | 10.2 | 19.9 | 29.7 | 32.8 | 24.8 | 22.1 | 23.4 | 21.6 | 20.5 | 24.4 | (24.3) | ||
| Brazil | R | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | (4.5) | … | … | (3.0) | … | |
| Br | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | (100.0) | … | ||
| Total | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | (4.5) | … | … | (103.0) | … | ||
| Chile | R | 7.2 | 11.0 | 5.0 | 11.9 | 15.0 | 20.7 | 21.2 | 32.5 | 15.9 | 32.9 | 41.5 | 37.8 | 33.1 | 26.5 | 46.3 | |
| Peru | R | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | … | |
| ASIA | |||||||||||||||||
| China | R | (100.0) | … | … | … | … | … | (150.0) | … | … | … | (200.0) | … | … | (240.0) | … | |
| Br | (145.0) | … | … | … | … | … | (340.0) | … | … | … | (400.0) | … | … | (450.0) | … | ||
| Gr | (5.0) | … | … | … | … | … | (10.0) | … | … | … | (10.0) | … | … | (10.0) | … | ||
| Total | (250.0) | … | … | … | … | … | (500.0) | … | … | … | (610.0) | … | … | (700.0) | … | ||
| Hong Kong | Misc. | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| India | R | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.5) | (1.5) | (1.5) | (1.5) | (2.0) | (2.0) | (2.5) | |
| Br | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.5) | (1.5) | (1.5) | (1.5) | (2.5) | (2.5) | (3.0) | (3.0) | (3.0) | (3.5) | (3.5) | (3.5) | (3.5) | ||
| Total | (1.5) | (1.5) | (2.0) | (2.0) | (2.5) | (2.5) | (3.5) | (3.5) | (4.5) | (4.5) | (4.5) | (5.0) | (5.5) | (5.5) | (6.0) | ||
| Indonesia | R | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 12.4 | 11.3 | 15.4 | 19.4 | 18.6 | 16.6 | (15.0) | |
| Japan | R | 114.4 | 162.1 | 166.6 | 159.7 | 127.0 | 156.0 | 145.2 | 178.9 | 160.7 | 151.3 | 243.8 | 255.2 | 229.2 | 328.1 | 352.1 | |
| Br | 202.7 | 180.1 | 242.3 | 217.1 | 191.1 | 201.1 | 235.5 | 297.5 | 294.9 | 245.4 | 233.1 | 285.3 | 285.8 | 277.7 | 303.4 | ||
| Gr | … | … | … | … | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | ||
| Misc. | 69.0 | 82.6 | 92.1 | 48.3 | 42.5 | 49.0 | 55.9 | 57.6 | 48.7 | 47.9 | 45.3 | 47.6 | 45.7 | 47.7 | 41.7 | ||
| Total | 386.1 | 424.8 | 501.2 | 425.1 | 360.9 | 406.4 | 436.9 | 534.3 | 505.1 | 445.3 | 523.4 | 589.0 | 561.3 | 654.2 | 697.8 | ||
| Korea, D.P.R. | Misc. | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| Korea, Rep. of | R | (5.0) | (8.0) | (9.0) | (13.0) | 11.1 | 9.8 | 8.4 | 26.0 | 36.4 | 16.2 | 35.8 | 34.8 | 23.2 | 41.6 | 61.0 | |
| Br | (20.7) | (30.3) | (31.7) | (33.0) | 33.4 | 44.6 | 45.4 | 43.6 | 56.2 | 55.0 | 57.2 | 55.5 | 85.2 | 153.7 | 240.0 | ||
| Gr | (1.0) | (1.0) | (1.0) | (2.0) | 4.0 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.7 | ||
| Misc. | (3.0) | (10.0) | (10.0) | (10.0) | 13.1 | 5.2 | 15.6 | 18.0 | 26.3 | 25.3 | 22.4 | 25.9 | 16.4 | 28.7 | 33.0 | ||
| Total | 29.7 | 50.3 | 51.7 | 58.0 | 61.6 | 61.0 | 69.6 | 87.8 | 119.5 | 97.6 | 116.6 | 117.4 | 125.8 | 224.2 | 335.7 | ||
| Malaysia | Misc. | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| Philippines | R | (0.1) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | (0.3) | 4.0 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.8 | (7.0) | |
| Sri Lanka | R | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| Thailand | R | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | … | … | |
| South Viet-nam, Rep. of | Misc. | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| EUROPE | |||||||||||||||||
| Bulgaria | Br | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | … | … | … | … | |
| Denmark | R | 15.6 | 20.6 | 31.1 | 24.2 | 25.3 | 23.6 | 25.0 | 27.5 | 23.8 | 23.7 | 14.2 | 13.0 | 15.8 | 10.9 | 10.7 | |
| France | R | 5.5 | 9.7 | 11.6 | 7.5 | 5.4 | 6.0 | 7.7 | 6.8 | … | … | 16.0 | … | … | 8.9 | … | |
| Br | 40.2 | 38.4 | 48.7 | 72.0 | 48.0 | 59.2 | 68.5 | 69.5 | … | … | 59.3 | … | … | 51.3 | … | ||
| Total | 45.7 | 48.1 | 60.3 | 79.5 | 53.4 | 65.2 | 76.2 | 76.3 | … | … | 75.3 | … | … | 60.2 | … | ||
| Germany, Fed. Rep. of | Misc. | - | - | - | - | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | - | - | |
| Greece | Misc. | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| Iceland | Br | (20.0) | … | … | … | … | … | (20.0) | … | … | … | … | … | … | (20.0) | … | |
| Ireland | R | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 9.4 | 4.7 | 14.3 | 9.0 | 4.0 | (4.0) | (4.0) | (4.0) | (4.0) | (4.0) | (4.0) | (3.0) | |
| Br | 65.5 | 76.2 | 82.2 | 109.3 | 119.3 | 134.3 | 60.0 | (50.0) | (48.0) | (48.0) | (45.0) | (40.0) | (40.0) | (40.0) | (45.0) | ||
| Total | 69.1 | 80.4 | 86.9 | 118.7 | 124.0 | 148.6 | 69.5 | (54.0) | (52.0) | (52.0) | (49.0) | (44.0) | (44.0) | (44.0) | (48.0) | ||
| Italy | R | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| Gr | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | (0.2) | (0.3) | (0.4) | (0.5) | (0.6) | … | ||
| Total | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | (0.2) | (0.3) | (0.4) | (0.5) | (0.6) | … | ||
| Netherlands | Br | - | - | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | - | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Norway | Br | … | 72.1 | 71.0 | 56.9 | 63.6 | 85.0 | 55.2 | 61.0 | 72.4 | 72.3 | 79.5 | 74.2 | (75.0) | (75.0) | (75.0) | |
| Poland | R | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| Portugal | R | … | … | 15.5 | 21.0 | 24.0 | 13.5 | … | … | … | … | 23.5 | … | … | … | … | |
| Spain | R | (13.0) | (19.5) | (22.0) | (19.0) | 23.5 | 14.0 | 26.0 | 35.0 | 59.5 | 50.0 | (50.0) | (50.0) | 32.0 | 46.0 | 59.0 | |
| Br | (2.5) | (2.5) | (2.5) | (2.5) | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | (0.0) | (0.0) | 0.5 | 1.0 | 1.0 | ||
| Total | 15.5 | 22.0 | 24.5 | 21.5 | 24.5 | 16.5 | 28.0 | 36.0 | 60.0 | 50.0 | (50.0) | (50.0) | 32.5 | 47.0 | 60.0 | ||
| U.K. | R | (0.1) | (0.1) | (0.1) | (0.1) | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Br | (17.9) | (18.5) | (18.3) | (14.4) | 18.3 | 21.1 | 21.1 | 23.1 | 23.1 | 24.4 | 22.5 | 29.7 | 27.1 | 24.1 | 26.7 | ||
| Total | (18.0) | 18.6 | 18.4 | 14.5 | 18.4 | 21.2 | 21.1 | 23.1 | 23.1 | 24.4 | 22.5 | 29.7 | 27.1 | 24.1 | 26.7 | ||
| OCEANIA | |||||||||||||||||
| Australia | R | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| Br | … | … | … | (1.0) | (2.0) | (5.0) | (7.0) | (7.0) | (7.0) | (7.0) | (5.0) | (4.0) | (3.0) | … | … | ||
| Total | … | … | … | (1.0) | (2.0) | (5.0) | (7.0) | (7.0) | (7.0) | (7.0) | (5.0) | (4.0) | (3.0) | … | … | ||
| New Zealand | R | (0.4) | (0.4) | (0.4) | (0.4) | (0.4) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.6) | (0.6) | (0.6) | (0.6) | (0.6) | |
| Br | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | … | … | … | … | ||
| Total | (0.4) | (0.4) | (0.4) | (0.4) | (0.4) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.5) | (0.6) | (0.6) | (0.6) | (0.6) | (0.6) | ||
| Oceanic Is. | Misc. | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |
| U.S.S.R. | R | … | (45.0) | (60.0) | (50.0) | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | (70.0) | … | |
| Br | … | (14.6) | (23.7) | (14.0) | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | (30.0) | … | ||
| Total | … | 59.6 | 83.7 | 64.0 | … | … | … | … | … | (57.7) | … | … | … | (100.0) | … | ||
| WORLD TOTALa (estimated) | R | 368 | 461 | 495 | 493 | 474 | 518 | 566 | 683 | 676 | 640 | 816 | 809 | 752 | 908 | 1 041 | |
| Br | 725 | 764 | 900 | 930 | 942 | 1 042 | 1 032 | 1 116 | 1 147 | 1 115 | 1 129 | 1 207 | 1 291 | 1 404 | 1 534 | ||
| Gr | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | ||
| Misc. | 72 | 93 | 102 | 58 | 56 | 54 | 72 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 68 | 75 | 62 | 78 | 76 | ||
| Total | 1 171 | 1 325 | 1 505 | 1 491 | 1 484 | 1 625 | 1 681 | 1 886 | 1 909 | 1 841 | 2 026 | 2 104 | 2 117 | 2 402 | 2 664 | ||
a Rounded to nearest 1 000 tons
