A program in Taiwan has successfully cultivated two types of native giant seaweed, or marine algae, enabling the restoration of marine habitats, the National Academy of Marine Research said on Monday.
The cultivation of the macroalgae species would ensure a stable supply of seedlings and enhance ocean carbon sinks, the academy said in a statement.
The academy, which falls under the Ocean Affairs Council, earlier this year collaborated with the Ministry of Agriculture’s Fisheries Research Institute to build a farm to grow large seaweeds at the institute’s Mariculture Research Center, and developed techniques for the mass culture of native giant seaweed species, it said.
Photo courtesy of the National Academy of Marine Research
As part of the project, researchers collected 48 native large seaweed species from the ocean off southern Taiwan and moved them to tanks on land to cultivate in large amounts, the academy said.
The research team designed the tanks and improved the algae production and cultivation model — including by regulating natural light sources, using flowing water without fertilization and reducing the labor cost of harvesting algae — to provide a stable source of algae for high-value recycling, it said.
Two types of native large seaweeds, Caulerpa lentillifera, commonly known as “sea grapes,” and Gracilaria firma, were found to be suitable for mass production, the center said.
During the cultivation and mass production process, these species were found to be able to survive in unfavorable conditions such as high water temperatures and drastic changes in salinity, the center said.
After one month of cultivation, the biomass changed, and the growth rate increased by up to nine times for Caulerpa lentillifera and three times for Gracilaria firma.
The academy on July 13 delivered the mass-produced giant algae to the Fisheries Research Institute, which shipped them using its research ship to artificial algal field facilities in the Taiwan Strait for cultivation and testing.
These macroalgae would be used in research related to marine carbon sinks, as they have excellent carbon-absorption properties and can help control pollution, the center said.
They could be used in high-value industries, such as food, biomedicine, energy and environmental protection and would help promote the government’s policy of transitioning to net zero emissions by 2050 by enhancing ocean carbon sinks and benefiting marine ecosystems, the academy said.
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