At most places in the world, seaweeds are obtained wild, but as the demand for the product increases, organized farming began to take form. The first known seaweed culture project took place in 1932, in Japan. In Peninsular Malaysia, the same project didn’t take off; instead it thrives into an industries in Sabah. Main species cultured in Malaysia are Euchuma Cottonni and Euchuma Spinosum.Euchuma is a species of seaweed, commonly found growing wild in large numbers, especially in the state of Sabah, East Malaysia.

It can be found growing in the still waters or in a slow moving water medium. Scientific studied, has shown that eucheuma contains a very useful substances that can be used in bio-chemical and bio-technology based process. Carregeenan, is a product obtain from seaweed that is widely used by various industries such as pharmaceutical, food processing, cosmetics, refineries, preservative and to certain extent even in the firearm and bullets making industries.

Seaweed culture has now become a popular venture in Malaysia among aspirant entrepreneur, due to the encouragement and the support given by various government agencies especially by Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia.

Eucheuma as seen in two different conditions, on the right is how seaweed looks like right after harvesting whilst to the left, it is in dried form. There is two species of seaweed commonly cultured in Malaysian waters namely eucheuma cottonii and eucheuma spinosum. Both species can be easily distinguished from each other because of their distinct features. i.e. spinosum has branches mimicking a torn whilst e.cottonii not shows this traits.

Site Selection Criteria

• In a chosen area water must be allowed to move or flow slowly between the seaweed so as to permit it’s the intake of nutrient from the seawater. The area must chosen must be protected from strong water currents, waves and wind. Sandy area and area which contain coral reef are the most preferred.
• Avoid estuarine area or area where fresh water and salt water mingle because it will definitely fluctuate salt water content in that particular area. Salinity should be between 27-35 parts per thousand (ppt).
• Water temperature should be between 25o-30o
• The depth of the water should not be less than 0.15 meter deep during low tides and 2 meter at high tides.
• Sea bed should be strong enough to be able to hold fencing or other man-made structure intact.
• Other point that needs to be considered are the availability of labor, easy excess and trouble-free communication.

Culturing Methods

Cutting or buds from matured and healthy plant are used as plantings materials. During propagations, certain technique must be observed so as not to downgrade the quality of the material.

• Used sharp knife.
• Planting materials should be cut either straight or slanting.
• Shoots or nips of the buds must not injured or spoiled during cutting process.

There is 3 different approached to plant a seaweeds depending on the availability of fund and environmental conditions. The methods are listed below:

1. Staking
   • This approach is commonly used in shallow waters less than 0.5 metres.
   • Ropes are tied between two poles where cuttings are tied to the ropes in between.
2. Semi-floating
   • This type of structures is used in an area where the depth is between.
   • It’s quite similar to the above approach that the end of the ropes is tied to the base of the poles and the ropes are held in the water by a float. The planting materials are tied to the ropes under the water surface and are free to float up and down in the waters according to the movements of the tides.
3. Raft/floating
   • These types of structures too are being used in an area between 1-3 meters in depth.
   • Two sets of wooden float or other long floating structures are fixed at 2 corners of the area. The floating materials are then anchored to the bottoms of the sea. The ropes are then tied across the two floats/floating materials where plantings materials are then tied to it.