Macroalgal rafts as fertilizer

Floating patches of seaweeds Sargassum pacificum and Turbinaria ornata are largest during the cool season and may damage reefs through shading, increased nutrients, and decomposition, as well as interfering with fishing, boating, and tourism. One such raft near Papetoai in Moorea took an entire day to harvest and grew back within 10 days during the summer. Harvested seaweeds from the raft were used to fertilize maize, which grew better with the addition of the seaweed than without it, suggesting that these seaweed rafts could have agricultural applications, especially if harvesting methods are streamlined.

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Zubia et al. 2015