The drift marine macroalgae are observed on the coasts at high and low tide, produced by strong marine currents, trade winds or other abiotic factors, forming large algae biomasses that completely cover some beaches. Currently, macroalgae are of great economic importance due to their multiple uses, being collected with specialized methods by some countries for use in human food (soups, salads, flour, stews and drinks), in nutritional blocks and animal feed, compost, fertilizers, bricks, ecological footwear, soaps, liquid and solid shampoo, sunscreen, bioplastic, rubber bands and other innovative products. The genera of greatest interest are: Ulva, Chaetomorpha, Cladophora, Codium, Sargassum, Ascophylum, Padina, Dictyota, Canistrocarpus, Lobophora, Laminaria, Gracilaria, Hypnea, Laurencia, Gelidium, Halymenia, Eucheuma, Kappaphycus, Acanthophora, Agardhiella, Botryocladia, Ceramium, Chondria, Chondracanthus, Grateloupia, Gymnogongrus, Kallymenia, Lomentaria, Meristotheca, Polysiphonia, Porphyra and Solieria, some of them being used to obtain phycocolloids: alginates, agar and carrageenan, these compounds are gelling, emulsifying, thickening and stabilizing agents, fundamental properties in many industries. These algae resources have been little exploited in Venezuela, being an activity that can generate important economic income. In this compilation, some uses of drift marine macroalgae are described.
