Production and economic assessment of giant kelp M acrocystis pyrifera cultivation for abalone feed in the south of C hile

Kelp biomass availability for mass abalone cultivation remains a critical issue in C hile. 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 C hile. Our results show 25 kg m −1 of production over a 9‐month spring‐summer period, and 16.2 kg m −1 during the autumn‐winter period. These values indicate that a total biomass production of 41.3 kg (wet) ma −1  year −1 can be obtained by placing the culture lines at 4 m intervals. High quality animal food‐grade plants with a 9% protein content, over 5 m in length were harvested. Sensitivity analysis showed that by cultivating 30–50 ha with a market value of US$ 78 ton −1 , a return on investment can be made after the first year.