The food values of marine algae are

The food values of marine algae are currently being reconsidered in the hope of coping with future food shortages. From the distant past, a long coastline and a rich and abundant variety of marine algae have allowed the Japanese to take full advantage of this source of food. In Japan more than one hundred species of marine algae have been used traditionally for foods. Even today, Japanese consume as much as 1.6 kg (dry weight) per capita annually of marine algae such as Laminaria, Undaria, Eisenia, Hizikia, Analipus, Monostroma, Enteromorpha, Ulva, Porphyra, Meristotheca and Gelidium. Among these, Porphyra tenera; Laminaria japonica, Undaria pinnatifida and Monostroma sp. have been artificially cultivated on an industrial scale in present Japan, and average annual yields are 2 200 t of Monostroma, 150 000 t of Laminaria, 50000 t of Undaria and 130000 t ofPorphyra, plus 13 000 t of Gelidium and other agarophytes