Seaweed Faming

SeaweedFarming

What is a seaweed?How do we culture it?What is the advantage

of its culture?What does it contribute?

What is its importance?

Overview:I. Seaweed DefinitionII. Seaweed Farming DefinitionIII. Specie Focus (Eucheuma)IV. Site SelectionV. Site PreparationVI. Diff. Culture MethodsVII. Farm ManagementVIII. Benefits of SeaweedIX. Uses of Seaweeds

I. Seaweed Defined:

Seaweeds are marine macro & micro algae,they are plant-like organisms that generally live attached to rock or other hard substrata in coastal areas.

Major Seaweed Classification:

According to pigments Phaeophyta

(brown algae) Rhodophyta

(red algae) Chlorophyta

(green algae)

II. Seaweed Farming Defined:

is the practice of cultivating and harvesting seaweed.

In its simplest form,it consists of the management of naturally found batches.

In its most advanced form,it consists of fully controlling the life cycle of the algae.

Did you know that…… Seaweed grows fast!

The weight of your seaweed can become 10 times heavier in 6 to 8 weeks.

In other words,if you have a 150 gram plant to start, after 6 to 8 weeks that plant will weigh about 1.5 kilograms.

Did you know that…

Thus,Eucheuma seaweed has a

very fast growth;a clear advantage for the

farmers!

III. Specie Focus:Eucheuma orGuso,in the Philippines cangrow in different colors.You can find some plant to be either green or brown.Despite their different colors, these plants give the same end-product.

III. Specie Focus:Eucheuma

Eucheuma seaweed has no roots but some of its branches can attach to corals and grow.

Even though seaweed grows in all directions, most of its branches grow up toward the sea surface.

IV. Site Selection:

1.Choose a location where there is a good water movement or where there is a rapid water turnover.Hence, H2O current speed should be between 20 to 40 m/min.

IV. Site Selection:2.Area should be sheltered from very strong wave action, current and winds.3…Avoid areas that are near the mouth of rivers or where there is a heavy freshwater runoff.

IV. Site Selection:…3.Eucheuma is a purely marine alga.Salinity of the farm area should be from 27 -35 parts/thousand.4.The area should have a water temperature range between 25°C and 30°C.

IV. Site Selection:5.Water depth in the farm should not be less than 2 feet during the lowest tide and more than 7 feet during high tide.6.The ground should be stable enough to permit easy installation of stakes or bamboos.

IV. Site Selection:7.Farm bottom composition should be sandy and rocky depending upon the variety of Eucheuma.8.If possible, choose areas where Eucheuma is endemic. However, the absence of such is not necessarily a negative sign.

IV. Site Selection:9.Take note of the other marine plants and animals that are associated with Eucheuma, for they are good indicators of possible site for its farming.10.Consider also the availability of labor, materials, accessibility to transportation and communication as well.

V. Preparation of the Plant Site:Steps to follow acc. To BFAR1.

Cut all grasses and remove all obstacles from the area.

V. Preparation of the Plant Site:Steps to follow acc. To BFAR2.

Remove the rocks, stones,starfishes, sea urchins & other predators.

V. Preparation of the Plant Site:Steps to follow acc. To BFAR3.

Construct a farm house w/ a drying platform on the selected site.

V. Preparation of the Plant Site:Steps to follow acc. To BFAR4.

Prepare rattan/buri baskets or seed-bin for holding seed stocks.

Preparation of the Plant Site:Steps to follow acc. To BFAR5.

Also prepare other culture materials such as nylon monolines, nylon nets, etc.

Methods of Culture:

1. Net method1.1 Floating bamboo

method 1.2 Mangrove stakes and

nets2. Bottom monoline method3. Floating monoline method

VI. Methods of Culture:

1. Net method• It is the first commercially

adapted technique in Eucheuma culture. 

• Planting unit is a rectangular net measuring 2.5 × 5 m with a diagonal meshwork having a 25 cm bar length.

VI. Methods of Culture:

•Net is made up of monofilament nylon or standed polypropylene lines (110–150 lbs test) for the margin and 30–100 lbs test for the meshwork.

•Each net unit has 127 mesh intersections. Eucheuma seedlings are tied at these places using soft plastic straws (tie-tie).

Net Method

VI. Methods of Culture:

1.2. Floating bamboo method

a. Tie each corner of a 2.5 × 5 m net to a large coral with a cord so that the net is stretched tightly.

VI. Methods of Culture:

b. Cut one meter piece of bamboo and tie one piece to each corner of the net.

c. Add additional net to the previously constructed one.

Floating Bamboo Method “Lantay”

VI. Methods of Culture:

1.3. Mangrove stakes and nets

a. Install mangrove stake bipod and tripod 6 meters apart in rows with 11 bipods or tripods in each row.

b. The rows should be 6 meters apart (11 rows can hold 20 nets). (BFAR Handouts).

c. Attach 2.5 × 5 meters net to the bipods and tripods.Make sure all nets are stretched tightly and are at least 2 feet above the bottom but below the lowest tide level.

VI. Methods of Culture:

Methods of Culture:

2. Bottom Monoline Method

The fixed, off-bottom monoline method or bottom line method of cultivation is commonly used in commercial farms.

Methods of Culture:

3. Floating Monoline Method

Opposite of bottom monoline method.

Images

Floating MonolineBottom Monoline

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

1) Seed selection and preparation

Careful selection of seedlings is a must. Healthy strong branches should be chosen.

Good seedlings are usually found at the center and near the tip of a healthy plant.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

The ways to prepare the seedlings are:

a. Use a clean and sharp stainless knife to cut the branches in order to leave a smooth surface.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

b. Never cut the branch in a slant position.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

C. Do not produce seedlings with any cuts at its branches.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

2) Tying of seedlings

Use of soft, flexible, not easily shredded and medium-sized plastic.

Tying length will be 6 inches (15.3 cm).

VII. Management of Eucheuma

Farm

The following are the ways to tie seedlings:

a. Seedlings shouldbe tied at the strongestpoint where they arewell-balanced for freemovement.Avoid breakage of the branches.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

b. Tie the seedlings properly with enough allowance for growth.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

c. Do not tie two or more seedlings together.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

3. Harvesting of Seaweed

• Harvesting can also be made a part of the maintenance procedure.

• Eucheuma are harvestable when they reach the weight between 750–850 g.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

3.1 Pre-harvest activities

Prepare all the necessary harvesting materials such as baskets, sacks, knife and goggles.

Prepare the drying area.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

3.2 Harvesting Procedures

a. Go row by row through the farm, harvest each plant by pruning.Remove branches from each plant using a sharp stainless knife.Leave about 200 g on each plant for regeneration.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

b. In total harvesting, just cut the allowance portion of the tie in-between the plant and the nylon line.

c.Using scoop nets, scoop harvested plants.

d. Collect all harvested plants in the banca.

VII. Management of Eucheuma Farm

e. Paddle the banca to the drying area when it is already full.

f. Unload, weigh and keep a record of all the harvests before spreading them to dry.

VIII. Benefits of Seaweeds

• Blood Purifying:The chemical composition of

seaweeds is so close to human blood plasma, that they are excellent at regulating and purifying our blood. 

• High in Calcium:They can contain up to 10

times more calcium than milk and 8 times as much as beef.

VIII. Benefits of Seaweeds

• Alkalizing:Helps our blood to neutralize the

over-acidic effects of our modern diet.

• Have Powerful Chelating Properties:

Offers protection from a wide array of environmental toxins, including heavy metals, pollutants&radiation by-products, by converting them to harmless salts that the body can eliminate easily.

VIII. Benefits of Seaweeds

• Contain Anti-oxidants:Seaweeds contain lignans

(naturally occurring chemical compounds) which have anti cancer properties.

• Detoxifying:They are rich in chlorophyll

which is a powerful, natural detoxifier that helps to draw out waste products.

VIII. Benefits of Seaweeds• Boost Weight loss:Seaweeds play a role in boosting weight loss and deterring cellulite build-up.Their naturally high concentration of iodine, helps to stimulate the thyroid gland, which is responsible for maintaining a healthy metabolism.At the same time, its' minerals act like electrolytes to break the chemical bonds that seal the fat cells, allowing trapped wastes to escape.

IX. Uses of Seaweeds

Foode.g.1 veggie salad(lato, Caulerpa racemosa)e.g.2 Nori (P. yezoensis and P. tenera)

Seaweed is good for the health, it is reach with Carbohydrates, Protein, Minerals &Vitamins A, B1,B2,B3&C

Images:

IX. Uses of Seaweed Animal Feeds

e.g seaweed meal(Ascophyllum&Laminaria)

Fertilizerse.g. Liquid seaweed manure

-promote resistance to plant disease& pests-induce fruit bearing-increase germination rates ALSOSeaweed is used to promote growth and soil condition, except for N,P,K, properties that already helps.

IX. Uses of Seaweed Commercial Use

e.g.1 Body CreamThe seaweed and seaweed extracts are good for the skinbecause it is beyond dispute according to cosmeticians and beauticians.

IX. Uses of Seaweeds Commercial Use

e.g.2 AlginatesIs widely used as a stabilizer or as an emulsifier, or both, and became very popular with the textile printing industry over the years.

e.g.3 Agar (gulaman)Is use as a solid substrate for the growth of bacteria and fungi. Also, it could be utilize as food (dessert).

IX. Uses of Seaweeds

Commercial Usee.g.4 Carrageenans

Are ideal food additives:they have a range of gelling and emulsifying properties ranging from a soft slime to a brittle gel that one could nearly walk upon.

Images

IX. Uses of Seaweed

Medical Usee.g. Seaweed Baths

Many people swear by the efficacy of seaweed baths in the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis.

Kilcullen’s Seaweed Baths

Thank You.

Questions?