Presentation on​

Seaweed farming
& different methods
z
of cultivation
Course title: CULTURE BASED CAPTURE FISHERIES (AQC-511)

Course Coordinator: Dr. KAPIL SUKHDHANE

Scientist

Submitted by, Division of Aquaculture

TREASA MERIN PIOUS
AQC-MBO-12
1st year MFSc. Aquaculture
 z
Introduction
 Seaweeds: marine macro & micro
algae- plant-like
organisms- attached to hard Codium fragile

substrata in coastal areas.

 According to pigments

 Phaeophyta (brown algae) - 1500

spp. : cooler, temperate waters.
 Rhodophyta (red algae) - 4000 spp. :
subtropical and tropical waters.
Ascophyllum nodosum
 Chlorophyta (green algae) - 900 spp.
z • Monostroma
Chlorophy • Enteromorpha
ta (green
algae) • Ulva
• Caulerpa

• Undaria
Phaeophy • Laminaria
z ta (brown
algae) • Sargassum
• Dictyota

• Porphyra
Rhodophy • Gracilaria
ta (red • Gelidiella
algae) • Eucheuma
• Laurencia
 z
History
Japanese improved this 40,000 people in the
method by placing nets Philippines made their
Korea- books such as living through seaweed
'Revised & Augmented of synthetic material tied farming. Also common in all
Survey of the Geography to bamboo poles. of southeast Asia, Canada,
of Korea' and 'Geography (Cheaper method- hibi Great Britain, Spain, and
of Gyeongsang Province'. method). the United States.

15th century 1670 1940s 1970s 1997 2000s

Farming began in Demand and Increasing attention due

Japan in Tokyo Bay. production increased. to its potential
for mitigating both climate
change and other
environmental issues,
such as agricultural
runoff.
 z
Economic importance
 Asia: world leader in seaweed cultivation.

 More than 80% by China, Korea and Japan- Gelidium,

Pterocladia, Porphyra and Laminaria.
 2014- 27% of all marine aquaculture.

 Global aquatic plant production from 13.5 million tonnes in

1995 to over 30 million tonnes in 2016. (SOFIA, 2016)
 Extractive species production accounted for 49.5 percent of
total world aquaculture production in 2016. (Marine bivalves +
seaweeds). (SOFIA, 2016)
z
 z
14000

12000
 Japanese kelp - 11,448
10000
 Euchema sp. - 9237
8000
 Gracilaria - 3454
6000
 Wakame - 2320
4000
 Nori sp. - 2017
2000

0
Japanese kelp euchuma Gracilaria Wakame Nori nei
seaweeds seaweeds

2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 Column1

z
As of 2018, the top 10 countries produced 96% of the global total of
21,65,675 metric tons.

Thousands metric tons

Country
per year
China 699
France 617
United Kingdom 205
Japan 123
Chile 109
Philippines 96
North Korea 71
South Korea 67
Indonesia 47
Norway 41
 z

145
species:  Indonesia: less than 4 million
for food
tonnes in 2010 to over 11
221 species million tonnes in 2015 and
of seaweed 2016.
are utilized
commercially  Kappaphycus alvarezii and
110 spp.:
phycocoll Eucheuma spp: as raw material
oid for carrageenan extraction.
productio
n.
z
 Some species (e.g. Undaria pinnatifida, Porphyra spp.
and Caulerpa spp., produced in East and Southeast
Asia): almost exclusively for direct human consumption.
 Low-grade products and scraps from processing
factories are used for other purposes, including feed for
abalone culture.
 Large-scale Seaweed Mariculture is carried out only in
Asia: Low-technology business

High labor content

The gap between the demand and supply is high.

 z

India
 Coastline of about 8124 km with 821 species of seaweeds.

 Tamil Nadu, Gujarat coasts, around Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar islands,
Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa, Karwar, Varkala, Vizhinjam and Pulicat inTamil Nadu and
Chilka in Orissa.
 Approximately 700 species of marine algae found in both inter-tidal and deep water
regions of the Indian coast, nearly 60 species are commercially important.
 Cottage industry.
 Gelidiella acerosa and Gracilaria sp.: throughout the year

 Sargassum and Turbinaria: seasonally from August to January on Southern coast.

 Mariculture
z of seaweed was attempted by: Central Salt and Marine Chemicals
Research Institute (CSMCRI), CMFRI, NIO.

CMFRI, Mandapam Seaweed culture

experiments in ponds
Gracilaria edulis and
Acanthophora spicifera Porbander

1970s CSMCRI 1964 Gracilaria edulis

N-W and S-E coast Long line rope

Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria edulis: method
Agar yielding seaweeds. Sandy lagoon
Hypnea spp.: Carrageenophyte.
E side of Kurusadi
Sargassum spp.: Alginophyte. Islands
Ulva fasciata, Enteromorpha (Rameshwaram)
compressa: Edible seaweeds
 The first
z large scale commercial cultivation of seaweeds in India: by Pepsi Foods
Ltd. (PFL) , with technical support from Marine Algal Research Center, CSMCRI,
Mandapam.

 They cultivated Kappaphycus alvarezii – exotic species

 10 km stretch of the Palk Bay side towards Mandapam (Ramanathapuram Dist.) in

Tamil Nadu.

 Contract farming system.

 Area: 100 ha

 Individual plots: 0.25 ha (40 m x 60 m).

 Each harvest cycle: 45 days

 Annual yield: 100 tons (wet weight) per hectare (10 tons of dry seaweed or 2.5-3
tons of carrageenan).

 Many agar and algin extracting intustries: Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala,
Karnataka and Gujarat.
z
 CSMCRI and CMFRI have developed culture techniques for some of the
commercially important seaweed species in India.
 CMFRI has developed and perfected techniques for culturing:

Hypneamus Acanthophor
ciformis a spicifera

Gracilaria
edulis

Gelidiella
acerosa
z
Difference between seaweed and
seagrass

Seaweed Seagrass
 Multi-cellular algae and have  Evolved from terrestrial plants.
little or no vascular tissues. Vascular plants and have roots,
 stems and leaves.
Produce spores.
 Have separate sexes; produce
 Holdfast.
flowers, fruits, and seeds.
 Use diffusion to extract
 Underground stems called
nutrients from the water. Not
plants or animals, but rhizomes.
protists.  Network of xylem and phloem.
 To
impr
ove • Job opportunities.
z eco • Export commodity.
nom
ic
con
Seaweed or ditio
• To reduce fishing pressure and overexploited fisheries.
ns
macro algae Env
iron
• Bioremediation.
• Climate change.
me
nt
• High in Calcium- 10 times more calcium than milk.
• Boost Weight loss- deter cellulite build-up.
• High concentration of iodine- helps to stimulate the thyroid gland- healthy
metabolism.
• Minerals act like electrolytes to break the chemical bonds that seal the fat
Food cells, allowing trapped wastes to escape.
source • Veggie salad (lato, Caulerpa racemosa), Nori (P. yezoensis and P.
tenera)
• Countain Carbohydrates, Protein, Minerals &Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3 & C.

Fucus serratus Ani • Seaweed meal- (Ascophyllum & Laminaria)

ma • Substantially reduce methane emissions from cattle.
l
fee
ds
 Fertilizer, compost for
landscaping.
• Liquid seaweed manure-
Medicine and herbs promote resistance to plant
diseases & pests.
• Blood Purifying- chemical • Induce fruit bearing.
composition of seaweeds is so
close to human blood plasma.
• Increase germination.
Commercial use • Alkalizing. • Promote growth and soil
• Alginates- paper coatings, • Have Powerful Chelating condition, except for N,P,K
adhesives, dyes, gels, Properties- protection from properties.
explosives and in processes environmental toxins, including • Combat beach erosion
such as paper sizing, textile heavy metals, pollutants & through burial in beach
printing, hydro-mulching and radiation by- products. dunes.
drilling. • Contain Anti-oxidants: lignans
• Agar (naturally occurring chemical
compounds)- have anti-cancer
• Carrageenan products. properties.
• Edible packaging. • Detoxifying: They are rich in
• Potential source of chlorophyll which is a
bioethanol powerful, natural detoxifier that
• Toothpaste, cosmetics, helps to draw out waste
paints products.
• bio yarn.
• Biorefining.
• Build roofs on houses
 z
Seaweed farming or kelp farming

 Cultivating and harvesting seaweed.

Simplest form

Management of naturally found batches.

Most advanced form

Fully controlling the life cycle of the algae.

Vegetative propagation
Reproductive methods
 z Reproductive propagation
Vegetative propagation

 Using fragments from mother plants.  By spores such as zoospores,

monospores, tetraspores and
 Seaweed thallus is used as seed
carpospores.
material.
 India: Gracilaria edulis: carpospores.
 Thallus collected from inter tidal areas
during low tide.  Nylon twine, cement blocks, HDPE
ropes and old fishing net.
 Fragments inserted into twists of rope,
 Spores to germinating stage in a
tied to nylon twine or PP straw.
nursery (within 13-17 days).
 Cultured in inshore areas of sea.
 Then transplanted to natural
• Seawater (Atleast BW)
Environmental environment.
requirement
• Light
• Attachment point  3 successive harvest from same seed
(from day 105 to 135).
 Site Selection

Avoid areas near

Good water Sheltered from
river mouth or Salinity-critical
movement or very strong wave
where there is a factor, most spp.
rapid water action, current need 30-35ppt.
heavy freshwater
turnover. and winds.
runoff.

Low temperature of Water depth: should The ground should Farm bottom
not be less than 2 be stable enough to composition should
10-20̊C is preferred
feet during the lowest permit easy be sandy and rocky
by most of the tide and more than 7 installation of stakes depending upon the
seaweeds. feet during high tide. or bamboos. seaweeed spp.

Take note of the other Consider also the

If possible, choose marine plants and animals availability of labor,
areas where that that are associated with
that particular seaweed,
materials, accessibility
particular seaweed for they are good to transportation and
is endemic. indicators of possible site communication as
for its farming. well.
 z
Steps to follow

1 2 3 4 5

Cut all grasses Remove the Construct a Prepare Prepare also other
culture materials such
and remove all rocks, stones, farm house rattan/buri as nylon monolines,
obstacles from starfishes, sea with a drying baskets or seed- nylon nets, mangrove
bin for holding stakes, boats dug-
the area. urchins and platform on the seed stocks. out/banca, digging
other selected site. bars, plastic twines,
gas lamps, knives,
predators. hammer/mallet etc.
 z
Gracilaria Farming

 Can be cultivated using vegetative fragments.

 Easy practice

 Can be carried out throughout the year.

Candidate  Fixed off bottom long line or floating raft
species methods.

 First harvest: in three months

 Subsequent harvest in one month.

 After harvest: dried in beaches for a week and

kept in bales ready for shipping.
 z
Kappaphycus alvarezii Farming

 Low-cost venture and a profitable.

 The technology can use family labor in either fixed off-bottom or

single raft long-line culture.

 The more line modules, the more investment and care are needed.

To remove undesirable algae, barnacles, and attached sediments

Weekly
visit: To re-tie loose or fallen seaweed

To tighten lines

To check for signs of “ice-ice” disease.

z
Why Kappaphycus alvarezii farming

Demand for seaweeds

High return on
is high in the local and
investment
international markets

Culture period could be

Environment-friendly
as short as 45 days
method
under optimal conditions
 Floating bamboo
Net
method.
Mangrove stakes
Culture methods
method and nets.
Tubular net method
z
Bottom monoline
method Line
Floating culture
monoline method

Raft
culture

Pond
culture

On-
bottom
culture

IMTA
method
1. Net Method​ Floating bamboo method.
z
•First commercially adapted technique.​
•Intensive production.​ Mangrove stakes and nets.
•Planting unit: rectangular net (2.5 × 5 m)
with a diagonal meshwork (25 cm bar
length). ​ Tubular net method
•The net is made up of monofilament nylon
or stranded polypropylene lines (110–
150 lbs test) for the margin and 30–
z
100 lbs test for the meshwork.​
•Coir nets of various size (1m x 1m) with a
mesh of 7.5-15 cm are used. ​
•The nets are installed horizontally. Their
corners, provided with loops are tied to
stakes or wire stretched between the stakes. ​
•Each net unit has 127 mesh
intersections. Seaweed seedlings are tied at
these places using soft plastic straws (tie-tie).
a) Floating bamboo method- "Lantay" ​

Tie each corner of the net to a large

Tie coral with a nylon cord so that the net
is stretched tightly.

Cut one meter piece of bamboo and

Cut tie one piece to each corner of the
net.

Add Add additional net to the previously

constructed one.
 b) Mangrove stakes and nets
Attach 2.5 × 5
Install mangrove
meters net to the
stake bipod and
bipods and
tripod 6 meters
tripods. Make
apart in rows with
sure all nets are
11 in each row.
stretched tightly
The rows should
and are at least 2
be 6 meters
feet above the
apart (11 rows
bottom but below
can hold 20
the lowest tide
nets).
level.

Nets can be fixed:

1. At the bottom using cement or concrete
blocks
2. Kept in semi-floating state or floating state
using floats.
• Plastic, aluminium or fibreglass floats are
used.
• Periodical cleaning.
• 60-80 days culture.
• Harvested using scissors leaving the
basal portion for further growth.
2. Line culture
a) Bottom monoline method
• Cheaper, easier to maintain and not so prone to surface weather conditions as
compared to the raft method.
• This method consists of modules which are units of planting in a hectare.
• A module has 28 monolines (single line) each measuring 30 ft (9.8 m) in length.
• About 36 plants can be tied to a monoline.
• A hectare of 35 modules consequently contains 35000 plants with about 1000
plants per module.
 Seedling size 50–150 g

Total weight or seedling hectare - 3–5 tons

Plastic tie length - 6 inches (15.3 cm)

Plastic tying allowance - 1 inch (2.5 cm)

Mangrove stake length - 29 inches (74 cm)

Monoline distance from bottom - 8–10 inches (20–25 cm)

Module dimension - 20 × 70 ft (10 × 20 m)

Space between modules - 5 ft (1.6 m)

Nylon line size - 160 lbs

soft, flexible, not easily shredded, medium-sized, 7

Plastic tie quality -
mm width
Procedures:
1. Insert the seedlings in the twists of plastic or
nylon ropes (5mm thick) at 5 cm intervals.
2. Using a mallet, drive wooden posts to the
bottom one meter apart in rows and 10 meters
between rows.
3. Tie nylon monolines at both ends of the posts,
parallel to each other. Whole unit is submerged
at 1-2 m depth.
4. The distance of the line from the bottom should
be about 20–25 cm (8–10 inches).
5. Additional stakes are used to prevent the ropes
from sagging.
6. Periodical cleaning.
7. Harvested after 2-3 months using scissors
leaving the basal portion on the ropes for
regeneration.
 b) Floating
Just opposite of that of

monoline method​
'Bottom monoline
method'.​
 PPzrope of 10 mm diameter is attached to 2 wooden stakes with 2
synthetic fiber anchor cables and kept afloat with synthetic floats.
 The length of the cable is twice the depth of the sea (3 to 4 m).

 Each raft is kept afloat by means of 25-30 floats.

 The cultivation rope (1 m long x 6 m diameter polypropylene) is hung

with the floating rope.
 A stone is attached to the lower end of the cultivation rope to keep it in a
vertical position.
 Generally 10 fragments of seedlings are inserted on each rope.

 The distance between two lines is kept at 2 m.

 Recommended to be used on the Kerala coast for agarophyte cultivation

 3. Raft culture
 Developed by CSMCRI.
 Cultivation on bamboo rafts of 2.5 x 2.5m
with lines and plants submerged at 30cm in
water.
 The raft is anchored either at the bottom
with a stone or concrete block or it is tied to
bamboo poles and positioned either parallel
to or perpendicular to the water current.
 Surface weather conditions influence this
method.
 Raft method is suitable in areas with
unfavorable tidal range and water depth.
z 4. POND CULTURE
Shrimp ponds or fish ponds can
be used for the culture of
Caulerpa and Gracilaria.
Help to treat the effluent water
Seaweed paddle pond culture by tackilng eutrophication.
Caulerpa is a purely marine
succulent green sea weed.
Caulerpa planting is done in
pond drained up to 0.3m.
After planting water level
increased gradually to 0.5-0.8m
Change water every 3-4 days.
 Fertilization: organic/ inorganic manure by spreading the fertilizer solution as spray or
dripping from fertilizer bags suspended above the water column.

Weeding is practiced.

Caulerpa: harvested after 2 months.

Gracilaria
• Euryhaline red seaweed suitable for pond culture.
• 20-28 ppt: optimum salinity.
• Gracilaria polyculture with shrimp/ crab.
• Salinity beyond 30 ppt is common in summer which is harmful to Gracilaria and therefore
freshwater must be available for dilution.
• Pond bottom should be sandy loam with slightly alkaline water.
• Water depth is maintained 30-40cm above the Gracilaria.
• Fertilization is done for better growth.
• 3 months
 5. zBOTTOM CULTURE ON CORAL STONE

 Coral stones are used as

substratum and kept in the natural
habitat of the desired species.
 The spores get settled on the coral
stones and the sporelings are
germinated.
 These are then transferred to the
cultivation site.
 Not suitable for larger seaweed
species.
 Suitable for sea weed reforestation.
6. Integrated
z
Multi Trophic  By-products from one
Aquaculture (IMTA) method sp. become inputs for
another.
 Fed aquaculture (fish/
shrimp) is combined with
extractive organic
(shellfish) & extractive
inorganic (seaweed)
aquaculture.
 Have potential to reduce
environmental impacts
of fish farming.
z

 Benefit community economics.

 Increase job opportunities.

 Improve the industry competitiveness

and sustainability.
 Increase profit of fish farming and reduce risks.

 Certain areas in the Gulf of Kutch have been

suggested as suitable.
 z
Management of Seaweed Farm
Seed selection and Tying of seedlings Pre-harvest activities
preparation

• Healthy strong • Use of soft,

branches should flexible, not easily
• Prepare all
be chosen. shredded and the
• Good seedlings medium-sized
are usually found plastic. necessary
at the center and • Tying length harvesting
near the tip of a should be 6 inches
healthy plant. (15.3 cm). materials
• Use a clean and • Tie at the such as
sharp stainless
knife to cut the
strongest point
where they are
baskets,
branches in order well-balanced for sacks,
to leave a smooth
surface.
free movement.
Avoid breakage of
knife and
• Never cut the the branches. goggles.
branch in a slant • Enough allowance • Prepare
position. for growth.
• Do not use • Do not tie two or the drying
seedlings with any
cuts at its
more seedlings
together.
area.
branches.
z Harvesting Seaweed
Harvest size is Go row by row Remove branches
species dependent
through the farm, from each plant
but generally harvest
can be done after 2-3 harvest each plant using a sharp
months. by pruning. stainless knife.

In total harvesting,
just cut the Using scoop
Leave about 200 g
allowance portion of nets, scoop
on each plant for
regeneration.
the tie in- between harvest the
the plant and the plants.
nylon line.

Paddle the banca Unload, weigh and

Collect all keep a record of
to the drying area
harvested plants when it is already
all the harvests
in the banca. before spreading
full. them to dry.
 z
CONSTRAINTS IN SEAWEED CULTURE
Environme Epiphytic
ntal algal
Calamities: Attack and growth on
A lot of grazing by large
physio- predators: species:
chemical Many Smaller and
and envt.al species of economicall Use of
factors fishes and y unscientific
influence crabs eat unimportant harvesting
the growth seaweeds Human species like methods:
of or destroy interferenc Chaetomorp Uprooting of Improper
seaweeds. by inhabiting e: Stealing ha, the entire drying and
Sudden them. of ropes, Centroceras thalli storage
changes in Meshed rafts, floats etc. grows including facilities:
temperature protection etc. and on larger sp. rhizoidal Leads to
, pH etc. can and fencing sometimes like attachment loss of
affect the are seaweeds Gracilaria, leads to harvested
cultivation recommend as such are Sargassum poor harvest quality
process. ed. taken away. etc. in future. seaweeds.
z

Seaweed Farming in India

 Central Salt and Marine Chemical Reseach Institute (CSMCRI)
Marine Algal Research Station (MARS), Mandapam, Tamil
Nadu a CSIR Institute: Gracilaria edulis and Gelidiella acerosa

 Method of cultivating Geildiella acersoa in open sea using

suspended stones to enhance yield.
 z
Lakshadweep
The best:

 Single bottom coir rope method and single bottom nylon rope
method

 During the southwest monsoon season

 At Islands of U.T. of Lakshadweep.

 To generate income during lean fishing season

 S-W monsoon (May to September) site become enriched with

nutrients..
 z
Gracilaria edulis
• 17 fold increase in 76 days in the first harvest at Minicoy Lagoon during
south west monsoon season
• Single bottom coir rope method.

Hypnea valentiae
• 20 fold increase in yield
• In 40 days in the second harvest at Minicoy Lagoon
• During south west monsoon season
• Single bottom coir rope method.
Acanthophora
spicifera
• 36 fold increase in yield
• In 42 days in the second harvest at Minicoy Lagoon.

CMFRI, 2015
 z
Kerala

• A record growth of 34.42 fold • A maximum of 20.1 fold

increase in yield in 86 days increase in yield in 80 days
• 30 fold increase in yield in • A minimum of 13.2 fold
63 days during post increase in yield in 40 days
monsoon period. • Raft culture method along
• Suspended nylon hook with green mussels (Perna
method viridis) – integrated farming
• Thikkodi near Calicut, • Vadakkekad, Padane,
Kerala. Kasaragod District, Kerala.

Kappaphycus Kappaphycus
alverizii alverizii

CMFRI, 2015
z
Tamil Nadu
 Climate resilient seaweed farming
practice, 2018.
 Initiated by CMFRI.
 5 fold increase.
 10 tons from single plot (100
monoline).
 1 month.
 Rs. 35,000 - 40,000/- per plot.
 Sale: Rs. 4/ kg (wet) : Rs. 40/ kg
(dried with 25-30% moisture).
 z
Gujarat
• Post monsoon period
Hypneamus •
•
Raft culture method
At Chorward near Veraval.
ciformis •
•
A 5-fold increase in yield
August - September period in 62 days.

Kappaphycus • November and December

• 8 fold increase in yield in 61 days.
alvarezii
• Integrated with Sea Cage culture.
Kappaphycus • In bags (9 fold increase in weight in 55 days (January
and February))
alvarezii • In raft (11 fold increase in weight by adopting raft
method in 64 days (February and March))
CMFRI, 2015
z
Problems

Over exploitation Scarcity of raw material

Labor shortages during

Poor quality raw material the paddy harvesting and
transplanting season

Lack of technology to Lack of information on

improve processed new and alternative
product quality sources of raw materials.
 Improving harvesting techniques
z
 Removal of competing species Possibilities
 Creation of artificial habitats
 Seeding of cleared areas.
 Effective dissemination of information to the target community
 Extensive surveys need to be conducted to identify suitable sites for large-
scale seaweed culture.
 Developing hybrid species with superior growth and nutritional characteristics
(like in Japan).
 Culture of high value seaweeds should be aimed.
 Seaweed polyculture in association with molluscs and fishes should be
encouraged.
 More technologically sophisticated extraction plants with easy access to
markets and marketing.
 z  Wikipedia

 Manual of running wayer fish culture 1.Eucheuma,

Godardo L.

 Seaweed Faming, Rodney Penafiel.

 Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture: Seaweeds and

beyond... the need of an interdisciplinary approach
Referances to develop sustainable aquaculture, Thierry Chopin,
Shawn M. C. Robinson, B. MacDonald, K. Haya, F.
Page, Neil Ridler, Machael Peter Szemerda,
J. Sewuster, S. Boyne Travis.

 Current trends and Prospects of Seaweed Farming

in India, Gulshad Mohammed.

 Seaweed farming, Dr. P. Kaladharan.

z
z
Thank you.