Photo: Albert O. Amosu
Ulva armoricana does well in culture due to its high growth rate, ease of harvesting and resistance to contamination.
ing. Seaweeds are known to lock away atmospheric
CO2. More importantly, not only do they fix dissolved
inorganic carbon, but in the process they alter the local
seawater chemistry and raise the pH, countering the
effects of acidification. Our research has demonstrated
that cultivated U. armoricana can raise the seawater pH
in both small and commercial-sized operations, and
thus has the potential to mitigate against ocean acidification.
and low skills levels.
The value of the SA seaweed sector
The South African seaweed sector is small in comparison to similar fisheries. As of May 2015 it was worth
about US$4.68 million, generates approximately
US$2.54 million per year, and most importantly employs over 400 people. The majority of those employed
are women who earn an average annual salary of
ZAR60,000. This annual salary is higher than in other
fisheries sectors and jobs are also more permanent. The
South African seaweed industry thus has had a major
economic impact within previously disadvantaged
coastal communities, where any increase in employment is valuable largely because such communities are
generally characterized by high unemployment rates
Further Reading
Maneveldt G.W. 2014. You use seaweeds for that?
Agri-Kultuur/Culture 17(Aug): 34-37.
http://www.joomag.com/magazine/agri-kultuuraugustus-august-2014/0879370001407230054.
South African seaweed innovations have provided
many important lessons. In the last two decades the
development of a seaweed aquaculture industry in
South Africa has been successful largely due to sustainable innovation between both commercial abalone
farms and tertiary research institutions.
Maneveldt G.W. 2015. Common green seaweeds of the
Cape Peninsula. Agri-Kultuur/Culture 28(July): 48-49.
http://www.joomag.com/magazine/agri-kultuur-julyjulie-2015/0965897001437655565.
Maneveldt G.W. 2015. Common kelps of the Cape Peninsula. Agri-Kultuur/Culture 32(November): 70-74.
https://www.joomag.com/magazine/agri-kultuurnovember-november-2015/0090737001448432884.