Micro and macro algae have been used for production of food, medicine and hygienic products for years.

In recent years, two major factors have led to further focus upon these resources. On one hand, 70% of earth has been covered by oceans and seas and on the other hand existence of viral diseases and diseases common among humans and livestock, such as AIDS and mad cow disease, which can be transferred via human and animal products, prove sea resources as a safe ground for production of food, medicine and hygienic products.

Meanwhile many of the specific products that have been recognized in other resources have been identified in algae, too.

500 different macro algae are internationally consumed as food, additives, and are used for extraction of medical chemicals from which 20 types are cultivated for the industry.

A fresh alga holds 75-90% of water and its dry form has 75% of organic chemicals such as sugar, protein, fat, vitamins and pigments. International production of macro algae reaches nearly 5 million tons, which include 67% of red algae, 30% of brown algae and 3% of green and micro algae.

Usage of sea algae is the source of income for the majority of countries that are next to the sea.

Persian Gulf with its clear and sunny weather and fixed temperature is one of the richest sources of alga in the world, for 10 months during the year.

Industrial cultivation of red algae in many of the Asian, African and South American countries has played a significant role in the economy of these countries from the old times. Cultivation and exportation of algae in Chile and Brazil has commenced from 1950. 35,000 to 45,000 tons of algae valued at 25 to 30 million dollars is exported from Chile annually, which has 600kms of coastline. In this manner, the rate of exportation of poly saccharids in Chile reached 5764 tons, valued at $57.6 million in the year 2000, compared to 350 tons in 1980 worth $7.5 million.

Meanwhile, in order to pave the grounds for provision of job vacancies, and to support the industrial units related to algae resources in the south of the country, a regional course for cultivation of sea algae was planned, following the invitation of two experts from Chile and Brazil, and with the cooperation of UNESCO, Qeshm Free Zone Organization, Organization for Protection of Environment, and, the Organization for Iranian Scientific & Industrial Researches in the Center for Persian Gulf Biotechnological Researches.