Cultivation of seaweed using the basic stocking system in floating net cages on Salemo Island, Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract. Seaweed has a large enough potential to be developed, especially in small islands. So far, cultivation activities carried out by seaweed farmers generally use stretch ropes so that they have high operational costs. One of the cultivation technology innovations that can be developed with an operational cost that is quite cheap and easy to operate is seaweed cultivation using floating net cages with a basic stocking system. The purpose of this study was to design a tool/media for seaweed cultivation in the form of marine cage with a bottom stocking system and to analyze the absolute growth rate based on the height of the cages (30, 50 and 70 cm). The method used in this study is the cultivation of seaweed with a bottom stocking system for different heights of the floating net cages (KJA). This study uses a comparative analysis approach of the results of seaweed production, based on different marine cage heights. The results showed that the highest seaweed production was at a depth of 50 cm, followed by 70 cm and the lowest was at a depth of 30 cm. The results of this study are expected to contribute to an increased production and income for seaweed farmers, especially in Pangkep Regency. Key Words: marine cage, bottom stocking system, absolute growth rate, seaweed production