The Agriculture Department has imposed a ban on the harvesting and selling of brown algae and seagrass to preserve the country’s marine ecosystems. The agency issued Fisheries Administrative Order No. 250, which prohibits the collection, gathering, selling and exporting of brown algae and seagrass. “The mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and seaweed forests being parts of the marine ecosystems are important natural resources of the state, inter-dependent with each other, serve significant ecological functions where a balance in the overall condition each must be maintained to ensure the survival of diverse fish and aquatic species,” said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

Estrada, A. L. (2014, April 26). Brown algae sale banned. Manila Standard, p. B1.