THE SEAWEED PRODUCTION CYCLE

3.0 THE SEAWEED PRODUCTION CYCLE

In both the off-bottom and the floating line methods of farming cottonii, there are eight production cycles per year but die-offs are estimated to occur in at least one cycle per year in the off-bottom method. The die-off typically occurs in a cycle following the heavy, rainy season March to May and is likely due to water salinity, sedimentation from run-off andor temperature differentials during this period Mmochi et al. 2005. To account for the die-offs associated with the off-bottom method, this economic analysis bases its calculations for the off- bottom plot on eight effective growing seasons but on only seven harvests per annum. Note that when annual labour costs are calculated for the off-bottom method, this means that those costs associated with seed preparation, planting and farm management are incurred eight times per year and that those costs associated with harvesting and post-harvesting activities are incurred only seven times per year. The calculations for the floating line plot are based on eight effective growing seasons and eight harvests per year. Either a senior female household member or a male household member manages each seaweed farm, and it is estimated that on the average two persons per family are involved in seaweed farming. Many farmers have more than one farm ranging between 1-5 farms. Most off-bottom plots owned by men tend to be larger than those owned by women. A large, man owned off- bottom plot consists of 30 lines that are 20 meters each in length and a woman owned off-bottom plot consists of 30 lines that are 10 meters each in length. Seaweed seedlings are planted once every six weeks. The seaweed grows for six weeks and is harvested and re-planted in the same tidal cycle. After each harvest, the seaweed is dried and stored by the farmers until buyers purchase it. The buyers then export the seaweed to international carrageenan processors. Carrageenan uses are related to their ability to form thick solutions or gels. Cottonii contains kappa carrageenan, a stronger gel that has a higher commercial value than the weaker gel, iota carrageenan, contained in spinosum. The main application for both types of carrageenan is in the food industry McHugh 2003.

4.0 COSTS OF SEAWEED FARMING