BienDong.Net : Spratly Islands , Spratly district , Khanh Hoa province , comprising about 100 islands , coral reefs and beaches . It has many seaweed species survival and development , of which 62 species have economic value and are an important marine resources .

 

It has long been known seaweed as a food resource has more nutritional value and healing effects . Besides, even seaweed as raw materials for many industries such as food , textiles , cosmetics , pharmaceuticals , .... In Vietnam today , seaweed is one of the many subjects prospects exploited for socio-economic development , contributing to significantly change the face of rural areas especially rural areas and coastal islands .

 

To have a scientific basis , and additional resource materials on this group , over time , scientists from the Institute of Oceanography in Haiphong (now the Institute for Marine Resources and Environment ) has research on seaweed resources Spratlys and achieved many positive results .

 

Seaweed samples collected on subtidal strips in Spratlys ( Photos : Dam Duc Tien )

 

The study showed that in 10 islands of the Spratly Islands ( Truong Sa large , Bill South , Son Ca , Song Tu Tay , Vinh Phan , Tan Speed ​​, Fishing Boat , West Rock , Southern Rock and Conservation Biology ) , has identified 255 species of seaweed are 4 branches of the cyanobacteria ( Cyanophyta ) , red algae ( Rhodophyta ) , brown algae ( Phaeophyta ) and Luc algae ( Chlorophyta ) . In particular , the dominant red algae than 136 species accounted for 53.3 % , followed by Luc algae : 69 species accounted for 27.0 % , brown algae and cyanobacteria have equal number of species : 25 species accounting for 9 , 8 % .

 

Seaweed in the Spratly Islands are diverse and distributed unevenly , the research focused mainly in two directions is the geographical distribution ( distribution width) and vertical distribution ( depth distribution ) .

 

Accordingly , the geographical distribution ( widely distributed ) of seaweed in the Spratly islands, not the same , the number of species in the islands range from 17 species ( Phan Vinh Island ) to 127 species ( Stone Island West ) and average 72.9 species .

 

The vertical distribution ( depth distribution ) of seaweed in the Spratlys only within the limits of the tide back down and concentrate mainly in the low tide . Some species may be distributed under 0m 20m deep or deeper charts .

 

Some species of algae in subtidal Spratlys ( Photo: Dam Duc Tien )

 

Based on the value in use, the scientists classify algae in the Spratlys group of six specific ingredients such as materials processing group gum Carrageenan , materials processing group agar ( agar ) , pharmaceutical , food , fertilizer and green vegetables .

 

Research seaweed resources of the Spratly Islands , scientists from the Institute of Natural Resources and Marine Environment not only makes sense scientifically , contributing additional resources document on seaweed in the water , but also help management agencies in the Spratly Islands orientation can exploit these valuable resources rationally and effectively , promote social and economic development of the islands .

 

Issues related resource extraction seaweed , Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology recommends : " Should the term exploitation , exploitation alternating ( similar to the following ) in accordance with the laws of the flora tropical , and zoning should protect some species have small amounts of , in danger of extinction " .

 

Red River ( source : TS . Duc Tien Dam , Institute for Marine Resources and Environment )