International Journal of Aquaculture, 2025, Vol.15, No.6, 308-316 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 310 has also begun to attract attention in the fields of health food and skin care products. Some enterprises have developed porphyra extract health products. In terms of market trends, the global trend of healthy eating has made porphyra, a low-calorie and high-nutrition Marine vegetable, highly favored. The increased acceptance of seaweed products by Western consumers has driven the growth of international demand for porphyra. At present, the annual global trade volume of porphyra products has exceeded one billion US dollars. 3 Economic Value Analysis of Porphyra Cultivation 3.1 Economic output and employment contribution of the porphyra industry The porphyra industry has made significant contributions to the coastal economy and employment. In recent years, the annual output value of China's porphyra industry has reached 10 billion yuan. In major production provinces such as Fujian and Zhejiang, it has become a pillar industry for fishermen to increase their income, directly driving tens of thousands of jobs. For instance, Xiapu in Fujian Province is renowned for its laver cultivation, and many agricultural and fishery families have been lifted out of poverty and become prosperous by relying on laver. The South Korean porphyra industry is also a major source of income from the fishery. The large-scale export of ready-to-eat seaweed has made it a star export product. Although the scale of the seaweed industry in Japan has shrunk, it still provides stable income for coastal communities due to the high added value of its products (Ji et al., 2021). Porphyra cultivation requires low investment, has a short cycle and quick returns, making it an important way for underdeveloped coastal areas to achieve economic improvement. More job opportunities have also been provided in related industries such as the processing and sales of porphyra. It is estimated that for every 10 tons of dried porphyra produced, one job can be directly created. The porphyra industry drives the secondary and tertiary industries such as processing services through the primary industry, and the indirect employment opportunities are even more considerable (Qiu et al., 2021). 3.2 Processed products and value-added industrial chains The economic value of porphyra is not only reflected in the cultivation process but also significantly enhanced through a rich processing industrial chain. Fresh porphyra is washed, dried and pressed to make dried porphyra slices for sale as raw materials. Many cooperatives and enterprises have established processing plants to turn porphyra into a variety of products such as ready-to-eat seaweed and seaweed snacks on the spot, significantly increasing the added value. For instance, the seasoned seaweed crisps developed by South Korean enterprises have swept the world, making the brand value of porphyra far exceed that of the raw materials themselves. The scraps produced during the processing of porphyra are also fully utilized and can be used as aquatic feed additives or made into organic fertilizers to achieve resource recycling (Machado et al., 2020). More enterprises extract polysaccharides, phycobile proteins and other components from porphyra for use in health foods and cosmetics, expanding into new value-added fields. The complete porphyra industrial chain has greatly enhanced the overall economic benefits. 3.3 Export trade and international market competitiveness porphyra has become a global trade commodity, with its main competitors coming from East Asia. With its huge output, China has been exporting a large amount of porphyra products to the world for many years and is an important supplier to the international market. In recent years, with the improvement of product quality in China, the demand for high-end laver within the country has also increased. It is worth noting that Japan has imported a large amount of porphyra from South Korea over the years, but rarely directly imported porphyra from China. This is related to factors such as product standards and trade policies (Ji et al., 2021). South Korea has stood out in the international market with its high-quality seasoned seaweed, and "Korean seaweed" has become a well-known brand, with its export volume ranking among the top in the world. Japanese seaweed is mainly supplied domestically with limited exports, but it enjoys a reputation in the high-end market for its outstanding quality. At present, the international competition in porphyra is shifting from competing in output to competing in quality and brand. Countries enhance their competitiveness by setting strict standards and building brand images. Enterprises and countries that can continuously provide safe, high-quality and distinctive porphyra products will occupy a dominant position in the international market.
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