Studies on the ecology and production of seaweeds of economic and potential economic importance on the Namibian coast
The seaweeds of the Namibian coast have received little attention from researchers despite the fact that there is a successful industry based on seaweed exploitation. Beach cast Gracilaria verrucosa (Hudson) Papenfuss is collected (9000-15000 t (wet) y⁻¹) in the Luderitz area for the production of agar, Laminaria schinzii Foslie was harvested for a short period from April 1987 to March 1989 and there is an increasing interest in utilizing other seaweed species on the coast. The natural beds of Gracilaria verrucosa in the Luderitz area were mapped and biomass estimated in summer (August 1991) and winter (January 1992) and beach cast collections were analyzed to ascertain patterns. The distribution of G. verrucosa was influenced by sediment type with most occurring on firm (constituting at least 60% 106-212 um) sediments. The largest surface area and biomass of the beds occurred in the northern portion of the Lagoon/Bay system, where the largest biomass of beach cast occurs. Most of the beds occur between 4-8m depth.
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