Commercial seaweeds in southern Africa: a review of utilization and research

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Abstract
Since commercial use of southern African seaweeds began in the early 1950s, six genera (Ecklonia, Laminaria, Gracilaria, Gelidium, Gigartina and Porphyra) have been collected or harvested, and most of this material has been exported for use in various colloid industries. Several other genera show potential for either harvesting (e.g. Hypnea) or mariculture (e.g. Suhria). Currently, the southern African industry earns more than 2,3 million US $ per annum and provides employment for approximately 2 000 people (half of them part-time), mostly in economically depressed rural areas. In this article, available data on commercial and research aspects of the seaweed industry and the regulations governing exploitation of natural populations on the coasts of southern Africa (South Africa, Transkei, Ciskei and Namibia) are considered. Where there is a lack of biological information necessary for further development of the local industry, future research directions are suggested.

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