Iranian researchers achieve technical know-how for development of macroalgae
Iranian researchers achieve technical know-how for development of macroalgae
The President of the Research Institute of Fisheries Sciences announced the achievement of technical know-how for the development of marine macroalgae by researchers at the institute.
"The issue of macroalgae in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea is a very important issue that needs our researchers’ attention,” Mahmoud Bahmani said.
Macrolgae, commonly called seaweeds, are marine plants that photosynthesize, but reproduce without flowers (seagrasses are an example of a marine flowering plant). Macroalgae are visible to the naked eye (in contrast to microalgae), and generally grow attached to the seabed or reef substrate.
He pointed to the existence of 309 species of macroalgae in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, and said, "More than 68 research projects have been implemented in different departments of the institute, the majority of which have been implemented by the Distant Waters Fisheries Research Center - Chabahar since 1370 (1991) and with more than 30 years of experience. In the new project, the colleagues of this center, as the project executor, with the help of other expert colleagues, achieved the technique of seeding Ulva macroalgae or sea lettuce in two species."
Bahmani added, "More than 35 species of algae are produced in the world and the cultivation of about 3 billion dollars of algae and its products is done by different countries. Ulva green algae can be exploited in laboratory conditions throughout the year and healthy seedlings can be produced from this species. The next step is commercialization and promotion of this finding so that we can transfer technical knowledge and promote it in the semi-industrial and industrial phase."
