Feasibility study on Mariculture of Gracilaria corticata in Chabahar coastal waters

Abstract

Due to approaching the method of marine algae (G. corticata) mariculture in the Chabahar waters (located at NE of Oman Sea), a series of feasibility studies were carried out to identify the suitable areas for growth of this algae. In this regard, different regions of shallow waters, intertidal zones, and also natural habitats of them were selected for either collecting sample or as culture regions. During the growth periods in autumn, winter and spring (the culture and plantation were not carried out during summer time synchoronized with monsoon season). Some acceptable results were achieved that indicated the meaningful growth rate of plants in the selected stations. According to the obtained results, at the end of culture period the weight growth was 3 times more and the mean length growth of C. coricata talls was from 68 to 134mm at the end of culture period. On the other hand, this statistical analysis didn't show any significant differences in different seasons from point of weight growth. It should be mentioned that some physical and chemical factors of sea water were measured consist of salinity, temperature, DO., pH, nitrate, phosphate and turbidity.