Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Science

Background and Objective: Eucheumatoid cultivation is increasing and a variety of methods exist that can increase production. However, new cultivation approaches are rarely reported. The objective of study was to examine a new method of seaweed cultivation: The floating cage.

Materials and Methods: The growth rate of Eucheuma denticulatum and Kappahycus alvarezii was assessed in floating cages from March-November, 2015 and compared with that in the traditional longline approach. Propagule wet weight was measured daily to document growth rates. Correlation coefficients between growth rate and environmental factors were calculated using simple linear models (Pearsonʼs) and statistically analyzed by SPSS Version 24.

Results: Growth rates of both species in floating cages were faster than on longline and thallus morphology was better. For E. denticulatum, the daily specific growth rate (SGR) in floating cages varied from a low of 2.68% to a high of 3.32%, but the respective rates on longline were 1.67 and 2.91%. For K. alvarezii cultivated in floating cages, the highest and lowest rates were 3.1 and 2.1% but, when cultivated on longline, the respective rates were 2.9 and 1.71%.

Conclusion: Therefore, it was concluded that cultivation of E. denticulatum and K. alvarezii using floating cages resulted in higher growth rates compared to cultivation on longline. The difference in results comes from reduced herbivore attack when the plants are in the protective cages.