1385 / 2024-09-26 11:49:37

Diversity of Seaweed along the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Seaweed,,diversity

Session 61 - Advancing Blue Food Futures Towards Ocean Conservation and Global Resilience

Carrageenan is the most widely produced and consumed seaweed-derived hydrocolloid globally, serving as an important additive in both food products and cosmetics. Kappaphycus, a type of macroalgae, is the most important seaweed for carrageenan production worldwide. Due to its significant application value, large-scale cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed began in the Philippines in the 1950s and was subsequently introduced to Southeast Asia, Pacific Island nations, Africa, South America, and other tropical coastal countries and regions. It is one of the most commercially successful marine aquaculture species globally. To date, cultivation of Kappaphycus in Malaysia is primarily concentrated in Sabah. The suitability of establishing commercial cultivation of macroalgae in Peninsular Malaysia depends on the source and quality of seaweed available, as various species adapted to the local water environments produce different gel qualities. To investigate the diversity of macroalgae in Peninsular Malaysia, surveys had been conducted. During the surveys, only common seaweeds from Rhodophyta group (i.e., Gracilaria sp.), Chlorophyta group (i.e., Caurlepa sp.), and Phaeophyta group (i.e., Sargasum sp.) were found. In addition, the association of harmful microalgae with edible macroalgae was evaluated to ensure food safety, especially since some of the macroalgae may be directly consumed by the local population. During the survey along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, benthic dinoflagellates, Ostreopsis sp. was found to attached on seaweed. Therefore, it is important to further investigate the toxin-producing microalgae that adhere to various seaweeds to ensure food safety by preventing the contamination of edible seaweeds with harmful toxins that could endanger consumer health.