Abstract
The pelagic seaweed found offshore and negatively impacting fishing activity in Ondo State Nigeria, has been identified to be a mixture of Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans which presumably floated from the Sagasso Sea of North Atlantic. In a bid to harness the potential uses of the seaweed biomass, the mixed Sargassum species were analyzed for the proximate composition, some minerals and phytochemical constituents using standard methods. The mixed Sargassum species contained 154 mg/100 g% protein, 86.5 mg/100 g ash content, 25.5 mg/100 g fat, 71.5 mg/100 g fibre and 573 mg/100 g carbohydrate. Thus it could be consumed by humans if cleaned. Owing to the small concentration of Nitrogen (6.3 mg/100 g), phosphorus (96.5 mg/100 g) potassium (28 mg/100 g), the percentage ratio of N-P-K (1-10-3) of Sargassum spp. was recommended as fertilizer. The presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids and saponins show that the species can be harnessed for their medicinal potentials. Key words: Sargassum natans, Sargassum fluitans, brown algae, proximate analysis, phytochemical, fertilizer, Nigeria.
Highlights
In July 2012, the Nigerian media reported the occurrence of an unknown seaweed floating massively off the coast of Ajegunle-Erun-Ama (Lat. 06o 19′ 32′′, Long. 04o 30′ 32′′E, alt 5 m) in Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria
The pelagic seaweed found offshore and negatively impacting fishing activity in Ondo State Nigeria, has been identified to be a mixture of Sargassum natans and Sargassum fluitans which presumably floated from the Sagasso Sea of North Atlantic
In a bid to harness the potential uses of the seaweed biomass, the mixed Sargassum species were analyzed for the proximate composition, some minerals and phytochemical constituents using standard methods
Summary
In July 2012, the Nigerian media reported the occurrence of an unknown seaweed floating massively off the coast of Ajegunle-Erun-Ama (Lat. 06o 19′ 32′′, Long. 04o 30′ 32′′E, alt 5 m) in Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria. The fishermen in the area observed that between April and July during the wet season, their nets were often filled with the seaweed mass instead of fishes. The present study was undertaken to identify the invading Sargassum species and carry out chemical studies using the biomass. This is with a view to harnessing the potential uses of the seaweed
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