Field cultivation of gracilarla edulis (Gmelin) Silva in the lagoon of Minicoy (Lakshadweep)

Experimental field cultivation of the agar yielding seaweed Gracilaria edulis was carried out on long line coir ropes and nets at four locations in the lagoon of Minicoy Island during the period March-June '90. The plants of G. edulis collected from Krusadai Island (Mandapam) and Kavaratti Island (Lakshadweep) were transported to Minicoy by rail and ship and used as seed material. The seedlings grew very well at two places and yield obtained after 60 days growth was a seven fold increase over the quantity of seed material. This may be attributed to the clarity of water, low sedimentation and less epiphytic growth in these two locations. The growth of G. edulis introduced in other two palces was affected by heavy sedimentation and attachment of several other algae on seedlings, coir ropes and nets. The present experiment shows the high potential for the successful cultivation of this agarophyte in the lagoon of Minicoy.