Suitability of Seaweed Culture (Eucheuma cottonii) in the Sorkam Barat Sub-District, Tapanuli Tengah Indonesia
Abstract Coastal and coral reef ecosystem areas in the Sorkam Barat Tapanuli Tengah may be potential sites for seaweed culture. To understand the suitability of that area for planting the seaweed, an initial study was conducted using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The environmental conditions as well as water quality parameters were analysed. The physical and chemical oceanographic factors parameters measured were wave height, temperature, salinity, depth, tide, brightness, pH, current velocity, and dissolved oxygen. While the water quality parameters measured were Total Suspended Solid (TSS), nitrate (NO3) and phosphate (PO4). Results shown that the water quality of the Sorkam Barat could be categorized as appropriate and quite suitable for the cultivation of Eucheuma cottonii. The suitable area for culture was 3,625.96 ha (92.5%) and the not suitable area was 294.18 ha (7.5%). The recommended planting method is the long-line system path method.