Species of marine algae grown commercially

Mariculture: Marine species of algae that is grown commercially.

Introduction

Algae are undifferentiated organisms which have no true roots, leaves, flowers or seeds unlike

other plants that posses them. They inhabit marine, freshwater and terrestrial conditions. They

also vary in their sizes from microscopic unicellular (3 – 10 microns) to macroscopic

multicellular (70 meters). Most of them are photosynthetic organisms that contain chlorophyll

but they also have extra pigments which forms the basis of their classification. Phytoplanktons,

seaweeds and symbiotic dinoflagellates in corals and sea anemones are marine algae. Seaweeds

are classified as Green algae (chlorophyta), Brown algae (phaeophyta), Red algae (rhodophyta)

and Blue – green algae (cyanobacteria). The main classifications are three; red algae, brown

algae, and green algae.

Seaweed has been traditionally harvested in Europe, Asia and the pacific islands for many years

but today seaweed harvesting has become an international business. They are used as sources of

diet food, for industrial application, as fertilizers. For example, Nori (porphyra spp.), a Japanese

red seaweed has a high protein content (25 – 35% of dry weight), vitamins (antioxidant beta

carotene which is a precursor to vitamin A) and mineral salts such as iodine. Industrial use is

largely dependent on extract ion of phycocolloids, gums classified as algars, carrageenans and

alginates. Agars from red seaweed such as Gracilaria, are used by the food industry and in

laboratory media culture. Carrageenans from red seaweed such as chondrus, Gymnogongrus,

Eucheuma and others provide particular gel quantities. Alginates are derivatives of alginic acid

extracted from brown algae such as laminaria. Their use is in printers’ ink, paints, cosmetics,

insecticides, and pharmaceutical preparations. In the United States of America, alginates are used
 Species of marine algae grown commercially

as stabilizers in ice cream, toothpaste, and also as suspending agents in milk shakers. Currently

the import and export of seaweed is a $200 billion business, with United States importing nearly

$50 billion each year. As many nations become developed the demand for seaweed will rise and

this has led to growth of selected marine algae. Although seaweed farming is an ancient practice,

innovative methods have been devised to improve mariculture techniques. For example,

Bridgeport Regional Vocational Aquaculture school in Connecticut have been cultivating red

alga (nori) next to salmon aquaculture pens where red algae removes excess nutrients produced

by the fish from the water and in turn use the nutrients to grow.

Seaweed farming is undertaken mostly in the lagoons like in the pacific island. A farmer selects

the best place to set up a seaweed farm, this are the places exposed to wind driven currents where

this currents brings all the nutrients that the seaweed needs in order to grow. This places which

are near lagoons become best because of the strong currents and also clear water thus being rich

in nutrients. Also in places that seagrass grows well and become healthy seaweed is also likely to

grow well. When a farmer identifies the right place for the farm he or she must look for other

kinds of seaweeds such as seagrass, red seaweed, seagrapes, and brown, fan-shaped algae. One

must also choose the best seabed. Places where the bottom is soft and muddy there are no

currents and the water is stagnant, instead use places where the bottom is hard. Avoid places with

a lot of coral heads since they attract small fish that feed on the seaweed. The seaweed should

not be exposed to the sun for more than an hour at low tide thus it should be planted in water that

is deep enough.

Before planting the farmer should ensure that the following equipments are available; a coil if

raffia, a coil of 3mm rope, a crowbar, 30 m of 6 mm rope, a bush knife, a sledge hammer, A5 m

length of measuring rope, arm length stakes. The best trees for stakes are small, flowering shade
 Species of marine algae grown commercially

trees, premna trees or casuarinas (secretariat of the pacific community, 2003). The seedlings

should be thin, many growing tips, dark in color and plenty of mucus. The plant then is cut with

a knife or broken with fingers and the young parts of the seedling planted. The size of the

seedling should be hand size and weigh around 50 – 200 grams. Insert the raffia inside the 3 mm

rope by pulling the strands apart. The raffia should be between every 20 cm along the rope. Then

tie the seaweed with the raffia on the rope but not very tightly. In the plots a 6 mm rope is the

best to hold the plot together. The lines with the seedling should be hanged on the same direction

as the current flows on the farm site. There are other farming methods such as the stake-to-stake

method which is used in Philippines and also the floating long lines. There are devices used to

get healthy seedlings such as the floating seaweed cages, or cages on the sea bottom. They hold

the seaweed and protect it from being eaten by fish. This farming is tiresome because the farmer

is required to be in the farm almost all days to keep the plots tidy and strong. The lines must be

tightly stretched and any seaweed that falls retied. If they remain loose they will be washed away

by strong winds. Before harvesting a farmer prepares a place to dry them. Harvesting is done at

low tide where the seaweed is taken ashore with the help of the harvesting bags. Farmers should

not wait for a long time to harvest since they may be washed away. At high tide one can use a

boat to harvest. The seaweed is then taken to the drying racks. Coconut fronds are good and

cheap for drying the seaweed but they may add impurities. To avoid impurities a farmer should

use a shade cloth underneath. A black plastic should be used to protect the drying seaweed from

rain and humidity at night. The seaweed is then cleaned to remove any mixed rubbish such as

seashells, shrimps or crabs, seagrass, sea cucumbers and plant wastes. Drying takes only three

days and when dry, its purple, brown and yellow in color. The seaweed is then sold to companies
 Species of marine algae grown commercially

that process them. In Kiribati, in the Pacific Island there is The Atoll Seaweed Company that

buys the seaweed from farmers.

Fig: 1

Species Sun-dried Oven-dried

17.4 16.0
Gracilaria maramae (s = 0.34) (s = 0.03)
% %
14.3
Gracilaria edulis -   (s = 0.32)
%
15.9
Hypnea pannosa -   (s = 1.30)
%
6.40 4.50
Acanthophora spicifera (s = 0.56) (s = 1.91)
% %
Dry matter content of dried seaweeds (courtesy of FAO)

There are several problems experienced by seaweed farmers. There are fish that graze near the

lagoons and are of two types; seasonal and territorial grazers. Example of seasonal grazers is

rabbit fish that gather in large schools on the lagoons. Territorial grazing occurs when there are

bigger animals feeding in the lagoon such as the puffer fish, porcupine fish and turtles feed on

the seaweeds. There are also seasonal problems such as epiphytes and ice-ice which occur when

the seaweed is under pressure. This is mainly caused by changes in the environment.

Conclusion

Several seaweed species have an economic potential to the countries they are harvested. Some of

this species are Gracilaria maramae, Gracilaria sp, hypnea pannosa and Laurencia sp. It

therefore evident that seaweeds cannot thrive in muddy habitat such as around the mangroves

since the water circulation is poor. The commercial utilization of this species will therefore

depend on the aquaculture methods. Japan has been having a high demand for the seaweeds used
 Species of marine algae grown commercially

as food and this has accelerated export industry of some countries that grow them such as Tonga

and Fiji. The bio-prospecting of this mariculture is therefore necessary in many countries since

this is a potential source of income.

References

1. International Journal of Biometeorology, Volume 27, Number 3 / September, 1983.

2. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences Journal, Volume 35, Number 4 / April, 1979.

3. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Farming seaweed in Kiribati: A practical guide

for seaweed farmers. Fisheries Training Section, New Zealand, 2003.

4. http://:www.cleantech.com/cleantechwork