The prospects and feasibility of seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) culture in the cage farming sites of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) in Central Kerala, India

Sunithakumari, K and Joseph, Shoji and Smina, M S and Jayasankar, Reeta (2026) The prospects and feasibility of seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) culture in the cage farming sites of Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) in Central Kerala, India. Phytology, 6 (1). pp. 10-17.

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Abstract

Seaweeds are primitive, photosynthetic, non-angiospermic macrophytes in tidal zones of oceans. The red algae Kappaphycus alvarezii was cultured in the present study for a period of 60 days (January – March 2021) in three stations: Malippuram (Station I), Chettuva (Station II), and Moothakunnam (Station III). Seedlings of K. alvarezii were collected from Mandapam, Tamil Nadu. Seedlings of K. alvarezii weighing 6.069 ± 0.069 g stocked in fruit net bags and floating bamboo raft; finally harvested 55.415 ± 0.018 g per fruit net bag from station I and 57.913 ± 0.068 g per fruit net from station II. Growth parameters of seaweed and water quality parameters of stations were analysed. The present study revealed good prospects for seaweed farming in Malippuram & Chettuva. Integration of seaweed culture with cage farming resulted in good growth of K. alvarezii in the open sea of Kerala. The objective of the study was to find out the feasibility of seaweed farming along with cage farming in Central Kerala using the fruit net bag tube method and the floating raft method.

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