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A Comprehensive Study on Mass Culture of Gracilaria edulis in Coastal Waters of South Andaman: Criterion, Constraints and Possibilities

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Abstract

This study explores the possibilities of converting the largely underutilized potential coastlines of Andaman Island to profitable seaweed farming sites, particularly at South Andaman. Present study, surveyed a total of five stations to locate the best possible site for seaweed mass production, of which two locations were selected based on geomorphology, water quality parameters and ease of access. The pilot scale study was done from 2018 – 2021 to understand the feasibility of seaweed farming in this Island. The first culture initiation was done at North Bay using Gracilaria edulis (G. edulis) and Acanthophora spicifera (A. spicifera) in floating bamboo raft. Seaweeds were tied using two different methods i.e.direct insertion to ropes and pouch filling. The results suggested that pouch filling method not only increases the yield but also lowers wash out occurrences in rough sea. The G. edulis species was found to grow well in the bamboo rafts with DGR of approximately 135 gm (± 0.085gm)/Kg. About 155–180 kg of G.edulis were harvested from 7 raft seasonally with 17.5 kg of input biomass, in this trial study. The main challenges experienced during the trial were, seasonality of preferable seed material, prolonged rainy seasons, cyclonic events, wave action and turbidity due to sedimentation, fouling by undesirable algae. Even so, the prospects of extensive development of seaweed culture in these islands are high, provided, steady seed availability, selection of season, proper culture technique and practices are considered and applied.

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The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article [and/or] its supplementary material.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support given by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, New Delhi to conduct the survey and research. The authors are thankful to Dr. G. A. Ramadass, Director, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai and former Director Dr. M.A. Atmanand, NIOT for constant encouragement and providing the necessary facilities to perform this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atal Centre for Ocean Science and Technology for Islands, OSTI, National Institute of Ocean Technology, Dollygunj, Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 744112, India

    Karuna Kumari R & Vinithkumar N. V.

  2. Ocean Science and Technology for Islands (OSTI), National Institute of Ocean Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, Velachery Tambaram Main Road, Pallikaranai, Chennai, 600 100, Tamil Nadu, India

    Dharani G

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  1. Karuna Kumari R
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  2. Vinithkumar N. V.
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  3. Dharani G
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Contributions

Karuna Kumari R: Execution, methodology, collection, photography, identification, analysis, writing- Original draft preparation. N.V. Vinithkumar: Supervision, methodology, collection, photography, identification, review and editing, validation. G. Dharani: Reviewing and Editing

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Correspondence to Karuna Kumari R.

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R, K.K., N. V., V. & G, D. A Comprehensive Study on Mass Culture of Gracilaria edulis in Coastal Waters of South Andaman: Criterion, Constraints and Possibilities. Thalassas 39, 379–387 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-022-00502-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41208-022-00502-9

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