Experimental cultivation of Gracilaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva in Gulf of Mannar at Tuticorin

Experiments have heen conducted to cultivate Graci/aria edulis in the Gulf of Mannar at Hare Island ofTuticorin during 1996-97. This agarophyte has been successfully cultured by vegetative propagation method using the tibreglass tank, cement tank, coir net frame and long line coir rope. In these experiments 3.5, 3.7, 16.1 and 13 .2 fold increase in biomass after 80, 60, 74 and 86 days respectively have been obtained. The culture techniques of this species, favourable period for culture and influence of environmental parameters are discussed.