Tropical macroalgae: a sustainable resource for the future

Mayalen ZUBIA: Senior Lecturer, University of French Polynesia, UMR-EIO, Faa'a, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Lydiane MATTIO: Consultant, Brest, France - Honorary Research Associate University of Cape Town, South Africa

Today, seaweed is a booming industry, practiced in some fifty countries and accounting for almost 50% of mariculture production. The largest market for seaweed-based products is the human food sector, with phycocolloids destined for the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Although aquaculture and the seaweed industry are common practice and a valuable source of income in Asia, many tropical countries boast a diversity of seaweeds that remains largely untapped. This diversity represents significant economic, innovation...