Culture of sea Lettuce, Ulva lactuca in Chile

Photo credit:Ahmad Yousef alqarain (Jordan)

Review: Abdel Rahman El Gamal (Founder of the website)

Sea Lettuce – Ulva lactuca is a species of green seaweed that belongs to the family Ulvaceae is found naturally worldwide. The uses of this species vary and include human food, make of paper, fertilizers and others. In regard to human consumption, the food market claims that Ulva sp. contain 15% protein, 50% sugar and starch, less than 1% fat, high in minerals and some vitamins. It is also supposed to be good roughage for the digestive system.

The relatively high growth rate which Ulva lactuca enjoys along with their tolerance to the high temperature range is considered an advantageous point in the culture of the species.

Moreover, the high nutrient uptake capacity of Ulva lactuca promoted its use in the “biofiltration” of fishpond effluents in coastal regions which in turn improves the sustainability of the coastal marine aquaculture industry. This principal has been adopted in the “Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture – IMTA” with the red abalone, Haliotis rufescens especially Chile is among the top producers of abalone in the world.

In addition to the environmental role of the seaweed species, the biomass of produced sea lettuce is valuable and can be used as a protein-enriched feed for other species or in human food, cosmetics, and/or for medicine.

Culture of sea Lettuce in Chile

 

 

 

 

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