DISEASE OUTBREAK. Seaweeds harvested on June 6, 2024 in Lavezares, Northern Samar turned white due to a disease triggered by extreme heat. The provincial agriculture office disclosed that starting March 2024, the rise in temperature has triggered the outbreak in several areas in Northern Samar. (Photo courtesy of Northern Samar provincial agriculture office)
TACLOBAN CITY – The significant rise of seawater temperature this dry season has caused an ice-ice disease in seaweed farms in Northern Samar, prompting several farmers to stop harvesting the marine plants, the provincial government reported on Friday.
The provincial agriculture office disclosed that starting March 2024, the rise in temperature has triggered the outbreak in several areas in Northern Samar.
"The heat index consistently exceeded 40°C, reaching up to 49.3°C. This extreme heat made seaweed production unfeasible as it adversely impacted both shallow and deeper water areas," provincial agriculture officer Jose Luis Acompañado said in a phone interview Friday.
"Ice-ice is caused when changes in salinity, ocean temperature and light intensity cause stress to seaweeds. The condition attracts bacteria in the water and induces the characteristic whitening and hardening of the seaweed's tissues," he said.
The usual tidal cycles, which primarily affect shallow water temperature, began to impact deeper waters due to the receding hotter water from shallow areas during low tides, he added.
Citing initial assessment reports, widespread loss has been observed in the seawaters of Biri, Lavezares, San Antonio, and Capul towns.
"Fisherfolk observed that adjusting the cropping season to the cooler months, starting in September with harvests in January or February, might mitigate the adverse effects of high temperature and unfavorable water currents," Acompañado told the Philippine News Agency.
It was in 2022 when the provincial agriculture office of Northern Samar implemented the PHP2-million seaweed production project.
The project supported 12 fisherfolk associations in the towns of Biri, San Antonio, Capul, Lavezares, San Jose, and Palapag.
In 2022, they produced 92.33 metric tons of seaweeds.
Part of the yield were processed into dried commodities, consolidated, and sold to Marine Colloids Philippines, Inc. in Cebu and Seashore Company in Manila.
Fresh seaweeds were sold to Fawshon, a Cebu-based trader, and local traders and processors in San Jose, Lavezares, Capul towns in Northern Samar and as far as Bato, Leyte.
Northern Samar has 115 hectares of seaweeds cultivated by 657 farmers. (PNA)
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