Abstract
This study explores the potential cultivation of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera (L.) C.A. Agardh in southern Chile, for the development of novel food products. The study demonstrates the importance of considering the collection site of the parent sporophytes for successful cultivation. This study also shows that the ropes must be seeded with 10,000 to 40,000 spores ml−1, depending on the culture method used. We also demonstrated that under environmental conditions in southern Chile, the seeded ropes must be put at sea at the latest during autumn (April) in order to reach the harvesting season in December. However, several other management aspects must be considered to improve the quality of the product. Our final estimation indicates that over 14.4 kg m−1of rope (fresh weight) can be produced and from this total production, over 70% can reach the quality to produce different food products that are already being introduced in oriental countries. The remaining 30% can be used for abalone feeding and is also available for the organic fertilizer industry located in Chile.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abbott IA (1996) Ethnobotany of seaweeds: Clues to uses of seaweeds. Hydrobiologia 326/327: 15–20.
Aguilar-Rosas LE, Aguilar-Rosas R, Marcos-Ramírez R, Cáceres-Rubio CF, McPeak RH (2003) New record of Macrocystis laevis Hay (Laminariales, Phaeophyta) on the Pacific coast of Chile. In: Chapman ARO, Anderson RJ, Vreeland VJ, Davison IA (eds), Proceedings of the 17th International Seaweed Symposium, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 337–340.
Buschmann AH (2001) Impacto Ambiental de la Acuicultura. El Estado de la Investigación en Chile y el Mundo, Terram Publicaciones, Santiago, pp. 63.
Buschmann AH, Troell M, Kautsky N (2001a) Integrated algal farming: A review. Cahiers. de Biologie. Marine. 42: 83–90.
Buschmann AH, Correa JA, Westermeier R, Hernández-González MC, Norambuena R (2001b) Red algal farming: A review. Aquaculture 194: 203–220.
Buschmann AH, Hernández-González MC, Aroca G, Gutiérrez A (2001c) Seaweed farming in Chile: A review. The Global Aquaculture Advocate 4: 68–69.
Buschmann AH, Vásquez JA, Osorio P, Reyes E, Filún L, Hernández-González MC, Vega A (2004) The effect of water movement, temperature and salinity on abundance and reproductive patterns of Macrocystis spp (Phaeopyta) at different latitudes in Chile. Marine. Biology. 145: 849–862.
Chopin T, Buschmann AH, Halling C, Troell M, Kautsky N, Amir N, Kraemer GP, Zertuche-González JA, Yarish C, Neefus C (2001) Integrating seaweeds into aquaculture systems: A key towards sustainability. Journal of Phycology. 37: 975–986.
Coon LM (1982) Macrocystis harvest strategy in British Columbia. In: Srivastava LM (ed.), Synthetic and Degradative Processes in Marine Macrophytes, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 265–282.
Coyer JA, Smith GJ, Andersen RA (2001) Evolution of Macrocystis spp. (Phaeophyceae) as determined by ITS1 and ITS2 sequences. Journal of Phycology. 37: 574–585.
Druehl LD, Baird R, Lindwall A, Lloyd KE, Pakula S (1988) Longline cultivation of some Laminareaceae in British Columbia. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management. 19: 253–263.
Gerard VA (1987) Optimizing biomass production on marine farms. In: Bird KT, Benson PH (eds), Seaweed Cultivation for Renewable Resources, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, pp. 95–106.
Hanisak MD (1998) Seaweed cultivation: Global trends. World Aquaculture. 29: 18–21.
Hurlbert SH (1984) Pseudoreplication and the design of ecological field experiments. Ecological. Monographs. 54: 187–211.
Kain JM (1991) Cultivation of attached seaweeds. In: Guiry MD, Blunden G (eds), Seaweed Resources in Europe, Uses and Potential. John Wiley and Sons Limited, Chichester, pp. 307–377.
Kaneko T (1999) Kelp cultivation in Japan. World Aquaculture. 30: 62–65+68.
Kawashima S (1993) Cultivation of the brown alga, Laminaria “Kombu”. In: Ohno M, Critchley AT (eds), Seaweed Cultivation and Marine Ranching, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Yokosuka, pp. 25–40.
McLachlan J (1973) Growth media - marine. In: Stein J (ed.), Handbook of Phycological Methods. Culture Methods and Growth Measurements, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 25–51.
McPeak R, Barilotti DC (1993) Techniques for managing and restoration Macrocystis pyrifera kelp forests in California, USA. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar. Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo. Serie Ocasional 2: 271–284.
Merrill JE, Gillingham DM (1991) Bullkelp Cultivation Handbook, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C. pp. 70.
Neushul M (1987) Energy from marine biomass: The historical record. In: Bird KT, Benson PH (eds), Seaweed Cultivation for Renewable Resources, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, pp. 1–37.
Neushul M, Harger BWW (1987) Nearshore kelp cultivation, yield and genetics. In Bird KT, Benson PH (eds), Seaweed Cultivation for Renewable Resources, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, pp. 69–93.
North WJ (1979) Evaluación, manejo y cultivo de praderas de Macrocystis. In Santelices B (ed.), Actas Primer Symposium Algas Marinas Chilenas, Ministerio de Economía Fomento y Reconstrucción, Santiago, pp. 75–128.
North WJ, Gerard VA, Kuwabara J (1982) Farming of Macrocystis at coastal and oceanic sites. In: Srivastava LM (ed.), Synthetic and Degradative Processes in Marine Macrophytes, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, pp. 247–262.
Ohno M, Matsuoka M (1993) Undaria cultivation “Wakame”. In: Ohno M, Critchley AT (eds), Seaweed Cultivation and Marine Ranching, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Yokosuka, pp. 41–49.
Petrell RJ, Tabrizi KM, Harrison PJ, Druehl LD (1993) Mathematical model of Laminaria production near a British Columbian salmon sea cage farm. Journal of Applied Phycology. 5: 1–14.
Steel RGD, Torrie JH (1985) Bioestadística. Principios y Procedimientos, McGraw-Hill, Bogotá, pp. 622.
Troell M, Halling C, Neori A, Buschmann AH, Chopin T, Yarish C, Kautsky N (2003) Integrated Mariculture: Asking The Right Questions. Aquaculture 226: 69–90.
Tseng CK (1987) Some remarks on the kelp cultivation industry of China. In: Bird KT, Benson PH (eds), Seaweed Cultivation for Renewable Resources, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam, pp. 147–153.
Ugarte RA, Sharp G (2001) A new approach to seaweed management in Eastern Canada: The case of Ascophyllum nodosum. Cahiers Biologie Marine. 42: 63–70.
Vásquez JA, Vega A (1999) The effect of harvesting of brown seaweeds: A social, ecological and economical important resource. World Aquaculture. 30: 19–22.
Vásquez JA, McPeak RH (1999) A new tool for sea urchin control and kelp restoration. California Fisheries and Game Bulletin. 84: 149–158.
Wikfors GH, Ohno M (2001) Impact of algal research in aquaculture. Journal of Phycology. 37: 968–974.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gutierrez, A., Correa, T., Muñoz, V. et al. Farming of the Giant Kelp Macrocystis Pyrifera in Southern Chile for Development of Novel Food Products. J Appl Phycol 18, 259–267 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-006-9025-y
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-006-9025-y