00:00To not affect the ocean ecosystem, a game-changing technique was developed in Cebu City to multiply a type of seaweed.
00:19Not only is it harmful to fish and reduces carbon emissions,
00:24there is also a high demand abroad for food and medicine.
00:27Let's change the game!
00:31We have a special Green Tom with us today
00:36because he can only grow a type of seaweed
00:40even if it's not in the ocean.
00:48Here in Mactan, Cebu, we invited Dr. Danilo Largo,
00:52Head of the Marine Biology Section of the University of San Carlos
00:56to find out more about his game-changing technique in cultivating Sargassum seaweed,
01:01a type of brown seaweed that plays a major role in the ocean ecosystem as a harmful pest to fish.
01:10On the other hand, there was a market demand for the extract of Sargassum seaweed
01:15so a method was developed to grow it initially on land.
01:20Because the law prohibits the harvest of Sargassum seaweed in its natural habitat,
01:28he developed the Sargassum Project, funded by CHED and DOST TAPI,
01:33a land-based hatchery to cultivate it without affecting the natural population of the ocean.
01:40So that we can produce harvestable crops.
01:43In China, Japan, and Korea, they also cultivate Sargassum,
01:48but they use a different technique.
01:52The goal is to produce sodium alginate from Sargassum,
01:56which has a high demand from food and medicine.
01:59You can also use a medicine capsule to produce sodium alginate.
02:03This is a big market that you are tapping into.
02:08In the cultivation of Sargassum seaweed, it all starts here in the laboratory.
02:15The seaweed leaves are placed in a vortex mixer to remove the germlings or its eggs,
02:21and the detached germlings.
02:23It is placed in a clay panel in an aquarium to grow.
02:26When it reaches 1 to 2 inches, we can transfer it to the sea,
02:31to the suspended longline culture.
02:38Seaweed farms are also good for absorbing carbon emissions.
02:44Last June, Dr. Danilo was able to harvest it.
02:47It is processed to make sodium alginate.
02:52We also do this to establish a Sargassum beach,
02:56a seaweed forest, for the kelp forest,
02:59to attract fish and other marine organisms.
03:03My fellow countrymen, Dr. Danilo's research is truly inspiring.
03:07Hopefully, our seaweed farmers will benefit from it
03:11and help the industry of seaweed in the country.
03:14For GMA Integrated News, I am Martin Aviar,
03:17Changing the Game!
03:33www.gma.gov
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