Mariculture of seamoss in Barbados
1986
St Hill, C.A.
The feasibility of restoring Gracilaria debilis as a commercial enterprise in Barbados was determined by experiments in tanks, and on stakes and rafts at sea. Overharvesting, water degradation and low growth rate have depleted wild stocks. Culture will be possible on rafts at Bath (east coast) and off the South point as poor water quality, wave action and the topography of coasts deter farming in other sections of the coast. Best culture method is by vegetative propagation on polypropylene ropes (0.50cm, 1.00cm) at depths of 10.0cm - 70cm at sea. Mean specific growth rates at Bath were 1 - 2 percent/day. With cropping time of 57 days yields were about 10,273 Kg dry seaweed/ha/yr. Expected profits from a 0.05 ha farm are $9,600 BDS/yr. Plant growth was positively affected by nitrification and light intensity, and adversely affected by water turbidity
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