CURRENT STATE OF SEAWEED RESOURCES IN SPAIN

Commercial seaweeds in Spain are harvested on the north and northwest coasts. They are mainly agarophytes and carrageenophytes (Gelidium spp. and some 'Irish moss'-like species, respectively), although some Phaeophyceae species (Fucus spp. and Laminaria spp.) are also exploited for alginates. No industrial seaweed cultivation is carried out in Spain at present. Spain's total commercial seaweed harvest can be estimated at 6,528 ± 2,076 t dry wt year-1. Gelidium spp. are by far the most harvested, attaining 5,135 ± 1,761 t dry wt y-1. To date, Spain's commercial seaweed harvest is low compared with that of other countries, but data on field standing crops and productivities of commercial taxa suggest that harvesting could be increased greatly. © 1990 Kluwer Academic Publishers.