Production and economic assessment of giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera cultivation for abalone feed in the south of Chile

Kelp biomass availability for mass abalone cultivation remains a critical issue in Chile. The technical and economic feasibility of a commercial scale kelp farming activity has not been established. This study describes the production and economic results of a pilot scale unit installed in southern Chile. Our results show 25kgm(-1) of production over a 9-month spring-summer period, and 16.2kgm(-1) during the autumn-winter period. These values indicate that a total biomass production of 41.3kg (wet)ma(-1)year(-1) can be obtained by placing the culture lines at 4m intervals. High quality animal food-grade plants with a 9% protein content, over 5m in length were harvested. Sensitivity analysis showed that by cultivating 30-50ha with a market value of US$ 78ton(-1), a return on investment can be made after the first year.