60 SEPTEMBER 2015 • WORLD AQUACULTURE • WWW.WAS.ORG FIGURE 1. Three cultivated species of macroalgae that are native to the northeast Pacific. Left, Turkish towel; center, Pacific dulse; right, sea lettuce. Photos: John Colt. In the Pacific Northwest of the US, attention has focused on three species of native macroalgae that grow well in coastal waters (Fig. 1): Turkish towel Chondracanthus exasperatus, Pacific dulse Palmaria palmata and sea lettuce Ulva rigida. These species have a Pacific distribution, ranging from Alaska to southern California. They are perennials found on rocks in intertidal to subtidal zones. Small quantities are typically manually harvested for personal use. With support from the NOAA Aquaculture Program, a landbased macroalgal culture system was established at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center’s Manchester Research Station adjacent to Puget Sound in Washington State. The system uses 2000-L fiberglass tanks for aerated tumble culture with twice-weekly fertilization (Fig. 2). Seaweed receives a mixture of water treated by sand filtration, cartridge filtration and UV disinfection and effluent Macroalgae as a Seafood Product Marine macroalgae, more commonly known as seaweed, has been a food source in Asia for centuries but has a limited presence in the North American market. Seaweed has an impressive nutritional value and is thus an excellent addition to a healthy diet. It is rich in dietary fiber, omega-3 fatty acids and contains essential amino acids and vitamins. Additionally it is low in calories and aids digestion. Macroalgal culture could be a part of economic development in coastal areas and provide fresh, locally produced seaweed to consumers. Although seaweed could be a beneficial addition to the North American market, seafood safety criteria for cultured seaweed are not explicitly defined because it is relatively novel in US aquaculture. Basic seafood safety information is integral to supporting the development of commercial seaweed culture in the US. Bacterial Safety Screening of Cultured Macroalgae Raised in an Intensive Land-based System Vanessa Carrasco, John Colt and Linda D. Rhodes
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