Present and Future of Seaweed Cultivation and Its Applications in Colombia

Abstract

Colombia has a diverse range of marine ecosystems in the coastal and insular areas of the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Seaweed research has focused mainly on the identification and taxonomic distribution of 628 species identified so far, mainly in the Caribbean Sea. Among the most widely cultivated genera of seaweeds in open-sea pilot systems in Colombia are Hydropuntia, Gracilaria, Hypnea, Kappaphycus, and Eucheuma. These genera have shown low yields as a consequence of high tissue fragility, epiphytism, sedimentation, and nitrogen deficiency. In addition, the evaluation of the biological activity of selected seaweed compounds has advanced considerably, focusing on their composition and their use for direct consumption by humans and animals. Despite the diversity of seaweeds, as well as certain technical and scientific advances, Colombia is still lagging behind other countries in seaweed exploitation, both in Latin America and worldwide. This current status raises the need to increase research, technological (agro-tech) appropriation, and the adoption of effective public policies that will boost algal businesses. In addition, seaweed cultivation could support the current blue economy transition in Colombia, which could eventually allow the country to enter the global seaweed market.

Proximate Composition, Physicochemical and Microbiological Characterization of Edible Seaweeds Available in the Portuguese Market

“…In recent years, the culture and marketing of seaweeds and their products worldwide have attracted growing attention [4]. The global seaweed market size was valued at USD 16.6 billion in 2020 and is expected to show an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8% from 2021 to 2028 [5].…”

“…The global seaweed market size was valued at USD 16.6 billion in 2020 and is expected to show an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.8% from 2021 to 2028 [5]. Currently, 97% of the world's seaweed production correspond to seaweed from aquaculture, with only 3% resulting from harvesting/exploitation of wild populations [4,6]. Among the diverse cultivation methods, Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) offers many advantages.…”

“…The IMTA system allows combining several species of different trophic levels (e.g., salmon with seaweeds), where the by-products of one species are recycled and become a source of nutrients for another species [7][8][9]. The efficiency of these systems is based on the assimilation of excreted ammonium, phosphates, and CO 2 by seaweeds, converting them into biomass [4,10]. Currently, about 200 species are commercially interesting, of which only about 10 taxa are intensively cultured [10,11], such as seaweeds from genera Saccharina and Undaria (brown algae); Porphyra/Pyropia, Eucheuma/Kappaphycus, and Gracilaria (red algae); and Monostroma and Enteromorpha/Ulva (green algae) [4,10,12].…”

“…The efficiency of these systems is based on the assimilation of excreted ammonium, phosphates, and CO 2 by seaweeds, converting them into biomass [4,10]. Currently, about 200 species are commercially interesting, of which only about 10 taxa are intensively cultured [10,11], such as seaweeds from genera Saccharina and Undaria (brown algae); Porphyra/Pyropia, Eucheuma/Kappaphycus, and Gracilaria (red algae); and Monostroma and Enteromorpha/Ulva (green algae) [4,10,12]. The most suitable species for IMTA systems, due to their biofiltration capacity, combined with their commercial value, are Gracilaria spp., Palmaria palmata, Porphyra spp., and Ulva spp., among others [13,14].…”