Coastal communities have long gathered seaweeds for their own consumption, for animal feed and for fertilizer. The development of industrial use and trade of seaweeds generated income to local communities. The intensification of the exploitation led local communities to implement rules to regulate harvesting. This paper analyses the evolution of seaweed management regimes in four countries: France, Japan, Chile and Norway. Social justice within the communities and equity among gatherers appear to be the basic principles to these rules. Conflict avoidance is their concern much more than resource conservation. This review highlights the role played by fishers' organisations and the processing industries in the management of seaweeds.