The word ‘plankton’ has been derived from a Gr. word ‘planktos’ means drifting. So, plankton are those microscopic aquatic organisms or drifters whose movement is mainly driven by water current, wave, tide, etc. Although, some of them might possess some kinds of locomotory organs but those are not sufficiently strong …
Read More »Marine Botany: Oceans, Seas & Bay of Bengal
Marine Botany is the study of aquatic plants and algae that live in oceans, seas, intertidal zones and even in brackish water (more saline than freshwater but less saline than true marine environments) of estuarine zones. It is a combined branch of marine biology and botany. According to Wikipedia, Marine …
Read More »Nori Cultivation
The cultivation of nori started about 300 yrs ago around the coast of Tokyo Bay and developed gradually in many localities Bundles of twigs of trees such as oaks, cherry, etc. were set in rows on the ground as the collectors, to which nori spores attach themselves and grow. In …
Read More »Seaweed Cultivation & Algal Industry
Of the global seaweed harvest, 85% – 95% goes to the food industry and is worth approx €4.1 billion per annum (p.a.). The most valuable crop produced by seaweed aquaculture is Nori – Porphyra – a red seaweed or alga. The value of this crop is around US$ 2 billion …
Read More »Toxic Algae & Human Health
Algal toxins are toxic substances released by some types of algae when they are present in large quantities (Blooms) and decay or degrade. These toxins are called ‘Phycotoxins’ (from Greek, phykos, “seaweed”; and toxikon, “toxin”). They are usually complex allelopathic metabolites produced by algal secondary metabolic pathways. These metabolites are (in most cases) not harmful to …
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