The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has distributed 17,629 seaweed seedlings to farmers in Dawahon Islet in Bato, Leyte to revive the industry within the year after it was wrecked by Typhoon Odette in late 2021.

BFAR 8 (Eastern Visayas) seaweed development program focal person Vicenta Promijo said in a phone interview Tuesday that the seedlings, to be planted on a 3,453-square meter farm, are just an initial intervention for the coastal community.

“Our goal is to fully re-establish seaweed farming in the islet within the year. We will distribute another set of seaweed propagules to these fisherfolk beneficiaries by October to sustain the productivity of seaweed (on) the island,” Promijo added.

The PHP170,548 worth of intervention is expected to produce 70,000 kg. of harvest by October with an estimated PHP300,000 income to Dawahon’s seaweed farmers.

In February, the fisheries bureau distributed about 100 units of seaweed farm implements, 1.2 tons of seaweed seedlings, 10 units of 12-footer fiberglass boats, and 10 units of 20-footer fiberglass boats with engines and accessories for the recovery of the seaweed industry.

According to Promijo, the survival rate for the seedlings distributed early this year was low because planting materials were stressed after hours of land transport from Biri, Northern Samar.

“During our distribution on August 23 to 25, we just sourced planting materials from nearby areas in Bohol and some locally produced to ensure high survival,” she said in an interview.

Dawahon is an islet in Bato town with a land area of only five hectares and a population of about 10,000.

About 90 hectares of its coastal area are devoted to seaweed farming, making it the seaweed capital of Eastern Visayas.

The residents have been relying on seaweed farming as their main source of living for more than 50 years.

Seaweed farms in the islet were destroyed by “Odette” when it crossed Leyte Island on Dec. 16, 2021.

Losses ran into PHP200 million, including ready-to-harvest seaweeds, post-harvest facilities, and fishing boats. (PNA)