Red seaweed harvesting in Tunisia - in pictures

The country is being called a Mediterranean trailblazer in cultivating the in-demand plant

Workers prepare red seaweed to be planted in the Menzel Jemil lagoon in Tunisia's northern Bizerte region. Red seaweed or algae is used as a gelling, thickening and texturing agent. It is also increasingly a substitute for animal-based products in processed foods, and is finding a place in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Tunisia is being called a Mediterranean trailblazer in cultivating the in-demand plant. AFP

Workers prepare red seaweed to be planted in the Menzel Jemil lagoon in Tunisia's northern Bizerte region. AFP

Workers prepare red seaweed to be planted in the Menzel Jemil lagoon in Tunisia's northern Bizerte region. Tunisia is being called a Mediterranean trailblazer in cultivating the in-demand plant. AFP

Workers harvest red seaweed in the Menzel Jemil lagoon in Tunisia's northern Bizerte region. AFP

A worker harvests red seaweed in the Menzel Jemil lagoon in Tunisia's northern Bizerte region. Red seaweed or algae is used as a gelling, thickening and texturing agent. It is also increasingly a substitute for animal-based products in processed foods, and is finding a place in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. AFP

A worker harvests red seaweed in northern Tunisia. Tunisia is being called a Mediterranean trailblazer in cultivating the in-demand plant. AFP

A worker harvests red seaweed in the Menzel Jemil lagoon in Tunisia's northern Bizerte region. AFP

A worker harvests red seaweed in the Menzel Jemil lagoon in Tunisia's northern Bizerte region. Red seaweed or algae is used as a gelling, thickening and texturing agent. It is also increasingly a substitute for animal-based products in processed foods, and is finding a place in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. AFP

Workers harvests red seaweed in the Menzel Jemil lagoon in Tunisia's northern Bizerte region. AFP

Workers process drying harvested red seaweed. Tunisia is being called a Mediterranean trailblazer in cultivating the in-demand plant. AFP

A worker processes drying, harvested red seaweed in Tunisia's northern Bizerte region. AFP

Workers process dried red seaweed at a factory in Bir Kassaa, which is on the outskirts of Tunisia's capital, Tunis. AFP

Workers process dried red seaweed at a factory in Bir Kassaa, which is on the outskirts of Tunisia's capital, Tunis. Red seaweed or algae is used as a gelling, thickening and texturing agent. It is also increasingly a substitute for animal-based products in processed foods, and is finding a place in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. AFP

Workers process liquid obtained from heating red seaweed before transforming it into a culinary powder, at a factory in Bir Kassaa on the outskirts of Tunisia's capital. AFP

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