Abstract
Seaweed industry has been growing up and is supplied by either wild or cultivated seaweed crops. This study was aimed to present relevant information regarding ecological availability of wild seaweed in Labuhanbua coastal waters, Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara and potential use of important species as candidate species for aquaculture. 46 sampling stations were determined along line transects perpendicular to coastal line; and seaweeds sampling were conducted during low tide by using 1 x 1 m2 quadrat transect. Field data consist of in-situ parameter including number of seaweed species and coverage area of each species; and ex-situ parameters consist of carbohydrate, protein, total C, total N, and total P content of seaweeds. The results showed that 33 species were found and three species has the most widely distribu tion, i.e. Padina sp., Dictyota dichotoma, and Gracilaria salicornia. Turbinaria, Dictyota, Padina, Stoechospermum, Hydroclathrus, Halimeda, and Chaetomorpha might be some important species that could be develop as aquaculture species candidates among other uncultivated species that were found along this study location. They have potencies as human food, livestock feed, neutraceuicals, cosmetics, pulp, textile, biofuel and any other industries; but conversely, they were found in lower density at Labuhanbua coastal waters. These species should be develop through aquaculture technology, involve genetic improvement and possibly genetic engineering. Commercial scale cultivation of those important seaweed species will contribute to industrial needs and prevent decreasing of wild seaweed availability in natural ecosystem.
Highlights
Government of Indonesia through Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has determined that national fisheries production targets about 31 million tons for five year during 2015-2019; which consist of seaweed production about 22 million tons
Natural seaweed habitat in Indonesia can be found along coastal waters with reef flat; where its abundance and distribution depend on the substrate types, seasonal hydrography conditions, and species competition (Kadi 2004)
Labuhanbua coastal waters is one of locations which has abundant natural seaweed species which distributed along the reef flat at intertidal zone
Summary
Government of Indonesia through Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) has determined that national fisheries production targets about 31 million tons for five year during 2015-2019; which consist of seaweed production about 22 million tons. Natural seaweed habitat in Indonesia can be found along coastal waters with reef flat; where its abundance and distribution depend on the substrate types, seasonal hydrography conditions, and species competition (Kadi 2004). They were found attached to the bottom, in relatively shallow coastal waters areas up to 180 meter depth, on solid substrates such as rocks, dead corals, pebbles, shells, and plants (Sahayaraj et al 2014). People who live around the Labuhanbua coastal area still did not aware on economic values of the natural seaweeds. Other major species which have high value substances are still commonly unrecognized by local people
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