Development of A Suitability Macroalgae (Geddie 2019)
1. DEVELOPMENT OF A SUITABILITY ASSESSMENT MODEL FOR THE
CULTIVATION OF INTERTIDAL MACROALGAE IN THE UNITED STATES
Anisa Aulia Sabilah (C552190011)
Alexander W. Geddie & Steven G. Hall
(2019)
4. INTRODUCTION
03
Macroalgae is a promising global commodity
with substantial potential for market growth and
expansion, represents an annual production of
more than 30 million tonnes of fresh algae.
Intertidal macroalgae warrant serious
consideration for cultivation by many coastal
regions around the world, particularly
locations without an existing marine
aquaculture industry.
Intertidal macroalgae represent
a particularly desirable group
are abundant and opportunistic
macroalgae capable of rapid
utilization of nutrients
(Thornber et al., 2017).
One way to reduce the costs of
production is to identify
geographically-advantageous
cultivation sites.
The importance of
geospatial tools has been
firmly established in many
fields of aquaculture GIS
tools have been used to
identify suitable sites for
macroalgae cultivation in
Asia, Africa, South America,
and Europe.
5. This study intends to determine the most
suitable location to begin large-scale
cultivation of intertidal macroalgae in the
United States.
This assessment combines both physical
growth criteria with socioeconomic data for
evaluation of potential growth sites to
investigate which areas may benefit most
from large-scale macroalgae cultivation.
THE AIMS
8. METHODS
01
02
The first part assessing the economic
suitability of the whole United States.
The second part assessing the
environmental suitability of the
contiguous United States.
9. Assessment of macroalgae cultivation potential along
the United States coast using continental
environmental data
Assessment of macroalgae cultivation potential along
the United States coast using census economic data
13. DISCUSSI
ON
The assessment generally indicates
that the southeastern United States
has strong potential for the
cultivation of macroalgae at large
scale.
A major reason for this result likely
stems from the higher per capita
income and property costs
associated with many of the mid-
Atlantic and northeastern states.
Economic suitability01
The green and blue regions in Fig.
4, indicating above average and
optimal
suitability, respectively, cover the
vast majority of the coastline in the
Southeastern United States.
The green and blue regions in Fig.
4, indicating above average and
optimal
suitability, respectively, cover the
vast majority of the coastline in the
Southeastern United States.
Environmental suitability02
The results of the environmental suitability assessment
generally align with the results of the economic suitability
assessment. The optimal zone identified in the
environmental analysis, the North Carolina coast, also
happens to be near counties identified as best-suited
economically for large-scale macroalgae cultivation. This
suggests that North Carolina is well-suited for intertidal
macroalgae production and may benefit the most from
large-scale cultivation of the product.
14. The results indicate that the region of the
country are the best-suited for cultivation
purposes, as the region is the native habitat
of the macroalgae assessed in the
environmental suitability Index, as well as
having a more favorable environment,
economically.
Further research is required to improve
the suitability models.
CONCLUSION