Many of these species are of economic importance as food, sources of industrial products such as polysaccharides,
bioactive and nutritional natural products, and growth promoting substances. Farming seaweeds is presently one
of the most productive and environmentally friendly forms of livelihood for coastal populations.More than 80 000
people have been estimated to culture some 10 000 ha of the coastal area. For example, production of farmed
Kappaphycus/Eucheuma reached 58 324 dry metric tons in 1995 and was valued at US$44 million dollars. Production
areas are concentrated in the southern Philippines.