1. Economic seaweeds - species, characteristics, uses
Amount and value of seaweed production; use of seaweeds as food, industrial uses, other uses.
Species gathered and cultivated in Asia - Eucheuma spp., Gracilaria spp., Undaria spp., others; characteristics of major species.
2. Selection of sites
Essential requirements of site - water quality, soil quality, existing vegetation, water mobility, climatic conditions, protection from weather hazards, tidal characteristics; site requirements for particular species.
3. Layout or design of culture plots
Delimitation of boundaries (fencing, buoy markers, etc.); anchorage substrates; orientation of plots in relation to prevailing wind and currents.
4. Culture operations
Selection of stock and seeding; monitoring growth; monitoring environmental fluctuations; watching diseases and other causes of mortality (e.g., grazing by finfish).
5. Harvesting and post-harvest technology
Periodic harvesting and total harvesting; cleaning, washing and drying; storage, preliminary processing and packaging or baling.
6. Marketing and distribution
Markets for seaweeds; local consumption versus export; transportation and distribution; quality control.
Practicals
Visit prospective site(s) for seaweed culture and diagnose suitability for use in seaweed culture; practice some seaweed seeding operations and, if opportunity offers, monitor growth of seaweed planting until harvest.
