Ok... why is it $9.99 a lb?

I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the stuff and would eat it everyday... but why the heck is it sooooooo expensive when you consider what it is?

I'm just wonderin'

Not all seaweed is the same. Here in Honolulu, the harvesting of "ogo" seaweed might be banned for a year, then subsequently limited to 1 pound per person per day because of overharvesting.