Seaweed <em>Kappaphycus alvarezii</em> Cultivation for Seagrass Ecosystem Conservation

The physical characteristics of the seagrass ecosystem indicate that the shallow sea waters are ideal for seaweed cultivation. The rapid development of Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed cultivation in coastal areas of Indonesia should not cause damage to the seagrass ecosystem. The study on the cultivation method of K. alvarezii seaweed in three seagrass ecosystems in Indonesia showed high growth rates, biomass production and carrageenan content due to high nutrient concentrations and high water clarity as well as the current optimal conditions in the cultivation environment. K.alvarezii cultivated in seagrass ecosystems prevents the damaging effects of UV-B radiation on those ecosystems. The right cultivation method applied is the off-bottom method