« How to Make Banana Chips | Home | Starting a Fruit Shake Business »
Farming and Culture of Red Seaweed (Kappaphycus)
| By Pinoy Farmer | July 18, 2009 |  |
Kappaphycus is a red seaweed commonly called ‘guzo’ or ‘tambalang.’ There are three common strains which are appropriate for farming. These are brown, green and red strains. Kappaphycus is naturally found below 0 tide line on sandy-rocky to corally substrate in the tropical intertidal and subtidal waters. Farming of this seaweed started in southern Mindanao in the mid ’60s, and has expanded to other parts of the Philippines and to other countries like Indonesia, Fiji, Micronesia, Vietnam, China, and South Africa.Kappaphycus forms 80% of the Philippine seaweed export and is one of the three marine-based export winners of the country. It is the raw material for the manufacture of kappa carrageenan which is an important food (e.g., jellies, ice cream, sauce, ham, sausage, chocolate drinks, etc.) and non-food (e.g., personal care, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals) additive.
The following environmental factors are required:
- Substrate: sand-rocky to corally
- Light: full sunlight
- Temperature: 29-34°C
- Salinity: >32 ppt
- Nutrients: nitrogen and phosphorus
- pH: 7-9
- Quality of water: clean. clear & pollution-free
- Water current: 20-40 m/min
Culture Techniques
Initial Investment (PhP/ha)
The planter is assumed to own a boat (either motorized or sailboat) and labor for the preparation and planting comes from the family. One cultivation line is 20 m long. If fund is insufficient, a fisherman may start ¼ to ½ ha and may expand later.
Crop Quality Management
- Growth period: 60 days
- Harvesting: total (¼ of the total harvest is allotted to seeding preparation for the next culture period)
- Drying time: 2-3 sunny days
- Drying technique: hanging, spreading
- Drying device: fish net, bamboo slats
- Moisture content: 37-39%
- Impurities: 5%
- Storage: well ventilated place, stored in sacks
Physical Determinants
The interrelationship of light, water quality, water motion, and temperature determines the fertility of the farm site. However, water motion becomes the most critical factor
in farm productivity as farming progresses.
Human and other biological determinants for farming:
- dedication of the fisherfolk
- application of sound agronomic practices
- biological factors – control of pests as in:
- a. grazing – is the nibbling of herbivores like siganid, acanthurid, sea urchin and starfish on tips of branches; this is common in reef areas, limestone substrate and seagrass beds.
- b. epiphytism – is the attachment of undesirable seaweeds to the cultured species which are common
among tropical seaweeds which usually occurs at the onset of monsoon brought by change in water temperature, tradewind and water motion; drift seaweeds caused by limited substrate contribute also to epiphytism which compete for space, nutrient and sunlight.
Health conditions of the seaweed:
- pitting – occurs at the cortical layer, a cavity is formed mainly due to mechanical wound; regenerative
- tip darkening – is due to senescence (old age) and cold water which result to loss of color and consequently disintegration. However, it has regenerative capacity
- tip discoloration – is due to aerial exposure and warm water; tip softening usually follows
- slowing of growth – this is mainly due to (1) appearance of epiphytes, (2) pigment loss, (3) tissue softening, (4) general decay, (5) poor season, (6) poor place of farming
- die-off – is initially manifested by discoloration which is mainly brought by freshwater run-off
- ice-ice – is a phenomenon caused by low salinity, temperature, and light intensity. When the plant is under stress, it exudes an organic substance which is mucilaginous in nature, and the presence of opportunistic bacteria in the water column aggravates the whitening of the branches or the so-called ‘ice-ice’ disease.
Sources: www.seafdec.org.ph
Topics: Agri-Business, Aquaculture, Technologies | 2 Comments »
August 2nd, 2011 at 11:49 am
Sir/Madam,
In Davao Oriental where I live, there is a very long stretch of shoreline about ten to twelve kilometers long facing the Pacific Ocean. The bottom is sandy. From May to October, the sea is generally calm and smooth. From November to April the waves (breakers) are big. Sometimes there are red seaweeds washed away along the shores which indicate that there are growth of red seaweeds further from the shore. I’ve been thinking of taking advantage of the calm from May to October to farm red seaweeds along the shoreline. Is this possible? If it is, I will introduce farming of red seaweeds in the place and this will be a big boon to the people living along the coast.
Your reply would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
Constantino
August 2nd, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Hi Constantino. First of all, I appreciate the thought of you giving those people living along the coastline idea(s) to earn something from. Kudos to people who are concern to fellow citizens.
Secondly, I’d like you to take a look on these first. I did a little research and these are Strategies one must do before engaging in seaweed farming:
1. Conduct research on diseases pestering seaweed farms.
2. Monitor, evaluate and asses effect of manufacturing operations, if industries are located near seaweed farming areas especially on toxic waste discharges.
3. Aggressive information/education on effective seaweed farming is a need.
4. Aggressive information drive on good seaweed farming and drying practice is a lot necessary.
5. Upgrading farm implements and post harvest facilities like driers.
6. Conduct forum on shipping and freight costs.
7. Access to market trends
Now, if you want to pursue, there is also a need to have several measures to combat diseases pestering the seaweeds, measures to prevent toxic wastes affecting the seaweeds, and improved farming techniques to realize high volume of production.
Good luck then!