A Comprehensive Study on Mass Culture of Gracilaria edulis in Coastal Waters of South Andaman: Criterion, Constraints and Possibilities

• Published in: Thalassas : revista de ciencias del mar 2023-04, Vol.39 (1), p.379-387
• Main Authors: R, Karuna Kumari, N. V., Vinithkumar, G, Dharani
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Bamboo; Coastal Sciences; Coastal waters; Culture techniques; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Farming; Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Geomorphology; Gracilaria edulis; Marine & Freshwater Sciences; Mass culture; Mass production; Oceanography; Rafting; Rainy season; Ropes; Seasonal variations; Seasonality; Seaweed culture; Seaweeds; Turbidity; Water quality; Wave action; Wet season
• ISSN: 0212-5919; 2366-1674
• DOI: 10.1007/s41208-022-00502-9

This study explores the possibilities of converting the largely underutilized potential coastlines of Andaman Island to profitable seaweed farming sites, particularly at South Andaman. Present study, surveyed a total of five stations to locate the best possible site for seaweed mass production, of which two locations were selected based on geomorphology, water quality parameters and ease of access. The pilot scale study was done from 2018 – 2021 to understand the feasibility of seaweed farming in this Island. The first culture initiation was done at North Bay using Gracilaria edulis ( G. edulis) and Acanthophora spicifera ( A. spicifera) in floating bamboo raft . Seaweeds were tied using two different methods i.e.direct insertion to ropes and pouch filling. The results suggested that pouch filling method not only increases the yield but also lowers wash out occurrences in rough sea. The G. edulis species was found to grow well in the bamboo rafts with DGR of approximately 135 gm (± 0.085gm)/Kg. About 155–180 kg of G.edulis were harvested from 7 raft seasonally with 17.5 kg of input biomass, in this trial study. The main challenges experienced during the trial were, seasonality of preferable seed material, prolonged rainy seasons, cyclonic events, wave action and turbidity due to sedimentation, fouling by undesirable algae. Even so, the prospects of extensive development of seaweed culture in these islands are high, provided, steady seed availability, selection of season, proper culture technique and practices are considered and applied.