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28 May 2021
Seaweed cultivation with floating cage method
Project leader: Mr. Jacob Medah
Level of education and university: Master, University of Western Australia
Collaborating Organisations: -
Project Location: Nusa Tenggara Timur
Activity Type: Knowledge and technology transfer
Sector: Activity Type
Project Rationale:
The traditional long-line cultivation method used by all traditional seaweed farmers in Nusa Tenggara Timur was introduced when seaweed cultivation was brought to Nusa Tenggara Timur. However, this method is susceptible to ice-ice disease, which in most cases will destroy more than 70% of cultivation.
Because it is cultivated on the water’s surface, the seaweed is also exposed to attacks from herbivorous fish, pests (reducing growth by 20%), epiphytic algae, and broken stems due to hard shock waves. These issues are barriers to the farmers increasing their productivity. Each year, data from the local government estimates that seaweed farmers lose more than 70% of their harvest or even the entire cultivation due to ice-ice disease alone.
Studies have shown that ice-ice disease only occurs during the summer season where the temperature increase is significant, especially on the water’s surface, which increases the stress of the seaweed and reduces the nutrients. This problem could be avoided if the farmers adopt the cage method where the seaweed spreads in a cage submerged 1 meter under the surface, where the temperature is cooler and not directly exposed to the sun.
Project Beneficiaries:
15 farmers
Priority Development Area:
Human development for a productive and healthy society
Link with Australian organisation: -
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