Morphological Traits of Wild and Selected Strains of Cultured Undaria pinnatifida from Galicia (NW Spain)

Wakame, Undaria pinnatifida, is one of the most popular seaweeds used for human consumption in the world. Wakame quality is mainly valued on the basis of its morphological features. Continual inbreeding and directional selection have traditionally been used with economic seaweeds to obtain elite strains with high‐quality forms. In this study, we compared the morphological traits of cultured sporophytes originating from wild and selected strains of U. pinnatifida in Galicia (NW Spain). Seedlings (young sporophytes) of the two strains were cultured at a sheltered site in a coastal bay of Galicia under the same environmental conditions. Sixteen different morphological measurements were taken on cultured sporophytes. We found that the sporophytes of both wild and selected strains were significantly similar in all studied morphological characters. These results suggest that the morphology of cultured strains of U. pinnatifida from Galicia is due to environmental conditions and that specific morphological traits are dependent on the cultivation environment. Consequently, the morphological traits of Galician U. pinnatifida populations are not an important factor in selective breeding for enhanced wakame quality, and hence, for the establishment of a germplasm bank (e.g., gametophyte stocks).     

Drag force and reconfiguration of cultivated Saccharina latissima in current

The design of aquaculture systems requires an understanding of the drag forces on cultivated kelp. This study measured the drag on line segments of cultivated Saccharina latissima in a towing tank. The drag on segments of farm line with full kelp bundles and with stipes alone (fronds removed) was measured at tow speeds of 0.10 to 0.50 m/s. The drag on individual fronds cut from the line was also measured. Video images were collected to evaluate the plant reconfiguration. Both kelp blades and stipes contributed to the total drag force on the line bundle. Within the velocity range of our experiments, the kelp blades were essentially horizontal. However, the pronation of kelp stipes increased as flow velocity increased. The reconfiguration of kelp stipes was observed to decrease the vertical extent of the kelp bundle. Due to this reconfiguration, the measured force, $F$, increased with velocity, $U$, at a rate slower than quadratic, and was consistent with scaling laws derived for reconfiguration. Specifically, $F\sim U^{\alpha }$ with $\alpha =1.35\pm 0.17$.     

Effect of nitrate fertilization of gametophytes of the kelp Undaria pinnatifida on growth and maturation of the sporophytes cultivated in Matsushima Bay, northern Honshu, Japan

In northern Japan, the early production of high-quality specimens of kelps Undaria pinnatifida prior to the outbreak of pinhole disease is needed. To address this need, we tested the effect of nitrate fertilization of gametophytes on the growth and maturation of sporophytes using experimental and control gametophytes derived from sporophytes cultivated in Matsushima Bay, northern Honshu, Japan. From mid-August to October 2008, experimental gametophytes were cultured on a rope indoors at a nitrate concentration of 1 mg/L at the optimal seawater temperature of 20 °C, whereas control gametophytes were cultured without the addition of nitrate in normal seawater at an average temperature of 23.5 °C during this period in the past 30 years. Next, the seedlings were cultivated in Matsushima Bay until March 2009. For the experimental kelps, the total length, stipe length, stipe width, sporophyll length, sporophyll width, and dry weight of the blade, midrib, and sporophyll increased significantly from December to January compared to those of control kelps. Matured sporophylls of the experimental kelps were more than those of the control kelps from early December to late January. Significant higher photosynthesis occurred at seawater temperatures of 10 and 15 °C, as well as higher uptake rates of NO₃–N of the experimental kelps in December and January. These results show that nitrate fertilization of the gametophytes makes it possible to harvest the high-priced blade, midrib, and sporophyll in January, which is earlier than the traditional harvest date.     

The Big Seaweed Search: Evaluating a citizen science project for a difficult to identify group of organisms

1. The Big Seaweed Search invites people to survey UK seashores for 14 conspicuous seaweeds. The science investigates: (i) impact of sea temperature rise; (ii) spread of non-native species; and (iii) impact of ocean acidification. Survey data submitted between June 2016 and May 2020 were analysed to evaluate and explore project directions in relation to citizen science project development.
2. Of the 378 surveys submitted, 1,414 people participated, contributing 1,531 person hours. Surveys were undertaken around the UK, with the highest proportion (46.7%) in the south west and the lowest (3.7%) in the north east.
3. After data verification, 1,007 (54%) records were accepted. Fucus serratus had the highest number of entries correctly identified (66%) and Undaria pinnatifida the lowest (5%), inferring that at least some seaweeds can be difficult to identify, although the overall misidentification rate was relatively low (c. 15%).
4. Apart from Alaria esculenta, U. pinnatifida and Saccharina latissima, the large brown seaweeds were abundant on at least some shores. Non-natives Sargassum muticum and Asparagopsis armata, were band-forming but in low numbers. Coralline algae, whilst band-forming on some shores, were most commonly patchy or sparse in abundance. Revisits, i.e. repeat surveys, at the same site with an interval of at least 1 year, are relatively low, with 18 sites revisited once and three sites revisited twice. Currently, data are insufficient to determine whether any changes in abundance could be detected.
5. This study highlights areas where project developments can enhance data quality and quantity, e.g. better identification resources, training programmes for dedicated volunteers, and an annual focus week of activities. The project framed around climate change impacts, aims to raise awareness of the ecological importance of, and threats faced by, this understudied habitat and introduce conservation concepts including the need to protect common species showing signs of decline.

     

Hydrodynamic characteristics of a full-scale kelp model for aquaculture applications

Hydrodynamic characteristics are needed to optimize the design of kelp aquaculture systems. To support this need, the objective of this study was to resolve both the normal and tangential drag forces acting on a dense aggregate of kelp blades using full-scale physical model tests. The physical model was designed to match the exposed length, individual blade flexural rigidity, the number of blades per unit width, the mass/length of biomass, and the aggregate mass density of kelp cultured at the University of New England experimental aquaculture lease site in Saco Bay, Maine USA. Tow tests were conducted at the United States Naval Academy in a tank with the dimensions of 116m × 7.9m × 4.9 m. The large tank size enabled the use of the full-scale physical model, minimizing dynamic similarity issues. In a series of tests, the model was towed in orientations both aligned and perpendicular to the tow direction. Horizontal and vertical reaction forces were measured for five tow speeds, along with the deflection of the dense kelp aggregate. With these datasets and the wet weight biomass per length of the model, normal and tangential drag forces were calculated. Drag components were processed into corresponding normal and tangential drag-area values. The drag-area representation was chosen since reference areas were ambiguous for both the actual kelp and model. At the higher speeds, the total horizontal drag in the aligned configuration were slightly lower than for the perpendicular orientation. Normal drag-areas as a function of tow speed ranged from 2.36 m²/m to 1.39 m²/m for the aligned case and from 2.49 to 1.88 m²/m for the perpendicular case. Tangential drag-areas as a function of tow speed ranged from 0.264 m²/m to 0.0325 m²/m for the aligned case and from 0.213 to 0.0415 m²/m for the perpendicular case. A transition from a bluff body to a streamlined body occurred as the tow speeds increased. To investigate this transition, horizontal components of the normal and tangential drag forces were reconstructed with the results of the tow tests. The reconstructed forces were obtained using a force balance system of equations with drag-area values for tow speeds less than 0.25 m/s extrapolated from the experimental datasets. For both aligned and perpendicular orientations, the model-aggregate reconfigured at a threshold of 0.25 m/s. We defined the threshold for reconfiguration as the tow speed at which the horizontal component of tangential drag equaled or exceeded the horizontal component of the normal drag. The drag-area results from this study can be incorporated into a dynamic fluid-structure interaction model representing kelp aggregates as a finite element beam prescribed with in-situ values of length, volume, mass density and flexural-rigidity of kelp material.     

Carotenoid Profile of Edible Japanese Seaweeds: An Improved HPLC Method for Separation of Major Carotenoids

An improved multi-step gradient reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to simultaneously separate major carotenoids from natural as well as food samples was developed. Quantitative profiling of carotenoid compounds was carried out on three edible brown seaweeds (Sargassum horneri, Cystoseira hakodatensis, and Undaria pinnatifida) and three red seaweeds (Gracilaria vermiculophylla, Grateloupia asiatica, and Grateloupia livida). Fucoxanthin (Fx) was detected in all the brown seaweeds with quantities (mg g^?1 dry weight [dwt]) ranging from 1.3 ± 0.3 in C. hakodatensis to 2.4 ± 0.1 in S. horneri. U. pinnatifida, commonly known as wakame, had a Fx content of 2.3 ± 0.1 mg g^?1 dwt. In the case of red seaweeds, zeaxanthin (Zx) was the major carotenoid, and G. vermiculophylla had the highest Zx content (80.2 μg g^?1 dwt) among the red seaweeds apart from small amounts of Fx (9.1 μg g^?1 dwt). Similarly, the other two species of red seaweeds, G. asiatica and G. livida, contained (μg g^?1 dwt) lutein (Lut), Fx, and Zx as the major carotenoids (G. asiatica: Lut 10.4, Fx 1.5, Zx 1.1; G. livida: Lut 9.3, Fx 3.5, Zx 1.0). The results suggest the usefulness of edible varieties (barring wakame) of seaweeds as dietary sources of carotenoids.     

Response of offshore cultivated Laminaria saccharina to hydrodynamic forcing in the North Sea

The aim of the presented investigation was to test the sensibility of macroalgal aquaculture in offshore wind farms in the North Sea and to find arguments for the choice of appropriate sites among the planned wind farms. Based on experience with an offshore aquaculture farm of Laminaria saccharina conducted in 2002, we assessed the maximum hydrodynamic forces affecting farmed algae by applying the model software “WaveLoad”. Drag measured in a towing tank was considerably higher on algae with a more ruffled margin and wider blade collected from sheltered environments than on flat and narrow farmed Laminaria despite comparable blade areas. Drag varied according to frond size, current velocity and acceleration reaction. Dislodgement of laminarian holdfasts and the forces necessary to break the stipe depended on blade length and surface area. Neither did our measured nor our calculated values of drag exceed those forces, provided the algae had been grown in a current > 1 m s^− 1. Even in storm conditions with maximum current velocities of 1.52 m s^− 1 and wave heights of up to 6.4 m can cultivated L. saccharina withstand the high energy environment.     

高效低碳——中国水产养殖业发展的必由之路

养殖种类不断增加,营养层次不断提高,集约化水平不断提升已成为我国水产养殖业总体发展的趋势,疾病流行、良种匮乏、污染严重、产品质量堪忧等诸多难题也随之而来。但从大尺度来审视,影响水产养殖近中期目标实现和可持续发展的主要问题则是水资源短缺、排污问题和产业发展对能源、鱼粉不断增大的需求。就产业主体而言,为保障我国的食物安全、实现我国CO₂减排目标,高效低碳模式是水产养殖业发展的必由之路。对未来10年甚或更长时期我国水产养殖发展目标的实现还会主要依靠一些相对简单且易被大众掌握的新技术的应用。积极发展碳汇渔业,特别是海水大型藻类和滤食性贝类的养殖,是实现水产养殖产业总体上走高效低碳道路的结构性保障。高效低碳养殖模式的建立需要大水域协同生产机制的体制保障,需要政府加强对养殖污染物排放监管的法律保障,需要生态学与经济学结合的学科保障。     

桑沟湾水动力特征及其对养殖容量影响的研究——观测与模型

主要介绍了从动力学研究桑沟湾养殖容量的主要思路、方法及结果。研究以精细过程观测为基础,以数值模型为手段,从物理海洋学角度考察养殖海区水动力特征,研究水动力对物质循环的影响、对颗粒态/溶解态营养物质的补充和对养殖生物量的影响,探寻不同养殖模式效果的技术路线;介绍了两个航次设计方案与目的。通过观测发现养殖对水动力垂直结构有很大影响,底层流速最大并滞后表层,发现弱动力条件下海底颗粒物和营养盐无法进入水体上层的事实。据此提出双边界层动力模型,建立一维数值模型进行机制探讨,将养殖阻力三维化建立水动力数值模型,定量给出养殖对水动力和水交换的阻碍;以此驱动三维养殖生态模型,充分考虑养殖对水动力的影响、水动力对生源要素的输运。建立了一个真正的物理-生物过程耦合模型。利用该模型进行的数值模拟和实验表明,贝藻兼养多元养殖是健康、高效养殖的有利措施;桑沟湾在现有养殖模式下,目前已基本达到了它的养殖容量,养殖品种分布不变,减少养殖密度至目前的0.9倍会略微提高产量,降低成本;减少湾口海带养殖密度,会大幅度提高贝藻兼养区的营养盐总量和养殖生物产量,从海带与贝类经济价值对比会有更高的效益。人为提高水动力混合或许是解决湾内营养盐缺乏的途径。     

Morphological comparison of wild,farmed and hybrid specimens of two South American silversides,Odontesthes bonariensis and Odontesthes hatcheri

In this study, body shape of hybrid and presumptive introgressed South American silversides was studied. Body shape of O. bonariensis and O. hatcheri from wild populations and farmed stocks was compared to provide basic information on the effects of fish farming on morphometric parameters. Subsequently, wild presumptive introgressed individuals and artificially hybridized farmed individuals were morphologically analysed to assess the effects of hybridization on the same parameters. Most farmed purebred individuals were shorter and higher than their wild counterparts, which is probably due to the favourable growth conditions compared to the wild habitat. However, the results evidenced that purebred individuals were more slender than both hybrid (farmed) fish and introgressed (wild) fish. Further studies on the growth performance of hybrid Odontesthes will be required in order to assess whether the combination of hybridization and sterilization could produce, under farming conditions, growth performances which satisfy the requirements of aquaculture.     

Growth performance of disk abalone Haliotis discus hannai in pilot- and commercial-scale recirculating aquaculture systems

The study investigated the growth performance of abalone from juvenile to marketable size in a commercial-scale recirculating aquaculture system. The rearing system consisted of 12 raceways (4.0 × 0.8 × 0.6 m) with a protein skimmer and a submerged biofilter for juveniles and 10 raceways (6.6 × 1.3 × 0.6 m) with a protein skimmer and a trickling biofilter for on-growing. Sea mustard (Undaria pinnatifida) and kelp (Laminaria japonica) were fed to the abalone. The total weight of abalone in the recirculating aquaculture system at the juvenile stage increased from 22.0 kg (average shell length 24.5 mm) to 75.5 kg (average shell length 42.5 mm) after 180 days. Feed conversion ratios increased slightly from 13.7 for the first 90 days to 16.3 thereafter. The shell growth rate of juvenile abalone between 24.5 mm and 34.8 mm was 3.4 mm month⁻¹, while for juveniles between 34.8 mm and 42.5 mm it was 2.6 mm month⁻¹. The total weight of abalone in the recirculating aquaculture system for the on-growing stage increased from 100.0 kg (average shell length 44.0 mm) to 433.3 kg (average shell length 72.7 mm) after 570 days. The feed conversion ratios for the first 173 days, the next 320 days, and the last 570 days were 19.6, 22.1, and 24.8, respectively. The growth rate of the average shell length during the on-growing period was 1.5 mm month⁻¹. Total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations were stabilized below 0.12 mg l⁻¹ in the juvenile recirculating system and 0.14 mg l⁻¹ in the on-growing recirculating system after conditioning of the biofilters.     

Quantifying Aquaculture‐derived Dissolved Organic Matter in the Mesocosms of Sanggou Bay Using Excitation‐emission Matrix Spectra and Parallel Factor Analysis

The cycling and fate of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in aquaculture systems are unique. Sanggou Bay, an aquaculture‐dominated system in China, was chosen to characterize the composition of DOM based on optical properties. Field incubation experiments of eight mesocosms containing various aquaculture organisms were conducted in July 2013 to explore the impact of aquaculture organisms on the DOM composition. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) showed an increasing trend, especially in integrated mesocosms, suggesting the accumulation of DOM in the aquaculture ecosystem. The DOC concentration was positively correlated with a₂₈₀ (P < 0.01) rather than a₃₅₅, demonstrating that a₂₈₀ should be applied in the quantitative prediction of DOC in aquaculture systems. Parallel factor analysis was applied to identify the components of the excitation‐emission matrix spectra. Two humic‐like components and two protein‐like components were identified. The significant correlation between the wet weights of the organisms and the humic‐like component contents (P < 0.01) indicated that seaweeds and bivalves play important roles in the production of humic‐like matter. The variation of protein‐like materials was caused by the growth of aquaculture organisms and the decay of phytoplankton. The amount of bioavailable DOC (BDOC) derived from phytoplankton and organisms was estimated; bivalve organisms excreted more BDOC than did seaweeds. BDOC was significantly correlated with the protein‐like components (P < 0.05) in the microbial incubation experiment.     

Dynamic and spatial models of kelp forest of Macrocystis integrifolia and Lessonia trabeculata (SE Pacific) for assessment harvest scenarios: short‐term responses

1. Dynamic and spatial models of the kelp forest off northern Chile (SE Pacific coast) were constructed using the Ecosim and Ecospace theoretical frameworks based on a previously mass‐balanced trophic model using Ecopath II software. 2. The biomass of Macrocystis integrifolia and Lessonia trabeculata blades constituted the most relevant compartments or variables of the ecosystem studied. 3. The relative ascendency (A/C) of 35.5% suggests that this ecosystem is immature, but resistant to disturbances (e.g. fisheries). 4. The results obtained using mixed trophic impacts (MTI) show that both brown macroalgae produced relatively similar quantitative and qualitative effects, however, the predictions based on Ecosim clearly show that L. trabeculata experienced the most relevant direct and indirect effects. 5. The highest values of system recovery time obtained by Pinguipes chilensis and the other seastar group suggest that both compartments could be considered to be top predator species with strong top‐down control. 6. The exploitation of kelp blades as a new harvest strategy appears to be ecologically sustainable. 7. The Ecospace trophic‐spatially explicit model shows that exploitation exerted separately by habitat generates a similar pattern of direct and indirect effects. These results suggest that a habitat rotation of fisheries would not be justified.Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of kelp residues fermented with probiotics on the culture of sea cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus

The kelp aquaculture production in China is the largest in the world, and a large amount of kelp residue is produced by kelp processing. Kelp residues contain substantial quantities of crude fibre, protein, and residual alginic acid, and may be used as feedstuff for aquaculture animals. In this study, we used probiotics to ferment kelp residues to improve kelp nutrient content and then fed the fermented kelp to the sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus. To study the effect of fermented feed on sea cucumber, its growth performance, digestive enzyme activity, diversity of intestinal microbiota and water quality of the sea cucumber culture water were determined. Growth performance of sea cucumber fed with fermented feed significantly (p < .01) increased when compared with sea cucumber fed with formulated feed. Amylase, cellulose and alginase activities were significantly (p < .01) higher in the fermented feed group when compared with the formulated feed group. The total number and diversity of intestinal microbiota showed a significant increase in sea cucumbers fed with the fermented feed. The water quality of the fermented feed group showed much lower ammonia and nitrite (<0.050 mg/L) levels when compared with the formulated feed group. These results suggest that kelp residues fermented with probiotics enhance the growth, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal microbiota of sea cucumbers and improve the culture water quality. Fermented kelp residues are a new supplementary nutrient source for sea cucumbers and may be applicable to other animal aquacultures.     

The Image of Fish from Aquaculture Among Europeans: Impact of Exposure to Balanced Information

This study investigated the effect of balanced, nonpersuasive information related to safety, healthiness, and sustainability of aquaculture on the image of farmed fish among European consumers. It was demonstrated that there is neither positive nor negative influence of this type of information on the predominantly positive image of fish from aquaculture. Consumers who were exposed to information related to the EU origin and aquaculture related guarantee reported a more positive image of farmed fish. These results provide valuable input for transparent communication about fish farming practices which might increase consumer trust and will not harm the image of fish from aquaculture. Increasing consumers' knowledge about aquaculture and its positive effects on the image of farmed fish is also discussed as a pathway for maintaining and improving aquaculture's positive image in the future.     

温度对海带幼孢子体后期的叶长、叶宽的影响

2014年—2016年,当海带养殖区水温降至19℃时,将海带"奔牛"品系的幼苗移植到荣成养鱼池湾海域,采用垂挂式养殖方式暂养,定期调整水层和摆洗幼苗,采用挂袋施肥的方式施加硫酸铵和硝酸铵的混合肥.约11月中旬,在海带苗种长至12～15 cm时开始分苗,此后在Ⅰ类海带养殖区,按照大单架平养的养殖方式进行正常养殖.自1月中...     

Impact of shellfish biodeposits and rotten seaweed on the sediments of Ailian Bay,China

We assessed the function of a Patinopecten yessoensis and Saccharina japonica integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) model on the level of organic matter produced in the environment. The study was conducted in March–July 2012 using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope methods. Results showed that the quantity of rotten kelp increased considerably over these 5 months, with the length of the rotten blades reaching 150 cm in July. The contribution rates of biodeposits by the shellfish and kelp to the suspended particulate matter (SPM) were 3.93 ± 0.39 and 4.99 ± 1.09 %, respectively, but contribution rates to the sediments in the IMTA area were very low. In May and July, rotting kelp contributed 1.06 ± 0.46 and 1.64 ± 0.13 % in the kelp area, respectively. The organic carbon and nitrogen content of sediments from the IMTA area was significantly higher than from the kelp area (P < 0.05). C% and N% in SPM from the IMTA area were four times those from the kelp area (P < 0.05), but the C and N content in sediments were still at a low level.     

象山港三种不同养殖方式对浮游动物群落的影响

为探究不同营养类型养殖方式对半封闭海湾浮游生态系统的影响,于2015年在象山港的鱼类网箱养殖、牡蛎筏式养殖和海带筏式养殖3种养殖区内外分别进行大、中型和中、小型浮游动物群落及相关环境因子的四季研究。结果显示,牡蛎养殖区内大、中型浮游动物群落结构变化明显,夏、秋季优势种太平洋纺锤水蚤的优势度下降,冬季优势种腹针胸刺水蚤的优势度上升;网箱养殖区内浮游动物群落变化不明显,变化主要为大、中型浮游动物优势种,春、冬季腹针胸刺水蚤的优势度下降,秋季优势种种类组成变化明显;海带养殖区内浮游动物群落和优势种变化均不明显。此外,3种养殖方式对浮游动物的生物量、丰度和α多样性均未产生明显影响。结合象山港的水文特征和养殖区内外的环境因子,研究表明,牡蛎养殖区浮游动物群落变化是牡蛎滤食行为和铁港水交换能力差的综合结果,而浮游动物优势种变化可能与水体总磷含量较高有关;因目前网箱养殖规模小且西沪港水动力条件较好,网箱区内局部环境和浮游动物的变化较小;海带养殖因面积小且仅春、冬季养殖,不足以对水质和浮游动物产生影响。此外,本研究显示不同环境中,大、中型浮游动物群落结构的变异较中、小型浮游动物明显,这可能与中、小型浮游动物群落的稳定性较高有关。     

Current status of parasitic ciliates Chilodonella spp. (Phyllopharyngea: Chilodonellidae) in freshwater fish aquaculture

Freshwater fish farming contributes to more than two‐thirds of global aquaculture production. Parasitic ciliates are one of the largest causes of production loss in freshwater farmed fishes, with species from the genus Chilodonella being particularly problematic. While Chilodonella spp. include ‘free‐living’ fauna, some species are involved in mortality events of fish, particularly in high‐density aquaculture. Indeed, chilodonellosis causes major productivity losses in over 16 species of farmed freshwater fishes in more than 14 countries. Traditionally, Chilodonella species are identified based on morphological features; however, the genus comprises yet uncharacterized cryptic species, which indicates the necessity for molecular diagnostic methods. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the biology, ecology and geographic distribution of harmful Chilodonella spp. and examines pathological signs, diagnostic methods and treatments. Recent advances in molecular diagnostics and the ability to culture Chilodonella spp. in vitro will enable the development of preventative management practices and sustained freshwater fish aquaculture production.     

A new approach to kelp mariculture in Chile: production of free-floating sporophyte seedlings from gametophyte cultures of Lessonia trabeculata and Macrocystis pyrifera

Substantial amounts of Macrocystis and Lessonia are traditionally harvested and exported from Chile as raw material for alginate. Because of intense mariculture of abalone (Haliotis ssp.), herbivorous molluscs that feed on brown kelps, pressure on local populations of Macrocystis and Lessonia has increased to critical levels within the past 5 years, strongly supporting efforts to produce algae maricultured biomass. Here, we present our results on the development of new techniques for large‐scale kelp mariculture in Chile. We have abandoned the traditional technique of direct spore seeding onto inoculation lines. Instead, we used gametophyte cultures that were manipulated to enter gametogenesis and to produce synchronous batches of 10⁴–10⁵ embryos. Juvenile sporophytes were cultured under permanent aeration and agitation, floating unattached in contamination‐free glass bottles up to 10 L, plexiglass cylinders and 800 L greenhouse tanks. When holdfast initials were formed at a size of 8 cm, the sporophytes were spliced into Nylon rope fragments and transferred to the sea. Twelve months after initiation of gametogenesis in the laboratory, Macrocystis pyrifera attained 14 m length and 80 kg fresh weight m^?1 line in the sea. For Lessonia trabeculata 6 months after gametogenesis initiation, 0.25 kg fresh weight m^?1 was attained in the sea.