Browsing by Author "Griffin, Neil John"

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    Harvest ecology and biodiversity of South African Porphyra
    (2003) Griffin, Neil John; Bolton, John J; Anderson, R J
    Porphyra (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) is the world's most valuable maricultured seaweed, due to its high value as a food crop. The vast majority of Porphyra in South Africa belongs to P. capensis, a morphologically and ecologically plastic taxon apparently endemic to the region. There is no demand for P. capensis as a food crop, as it is unsuitable for the market, and there are no records of its customary use locally. Porphyra capensis is however a potentially highly valuable fodder for the mariculture of abalone (Haliotis midae), and pressure to harvest it has recently increased. This study aims to assess the potential for harvest of Porphyra on the south-western shores of South Africa. There are two main thrusts to this work. The fIrst thrust examines Porphyra as an ecological entity in the region. The second thrust reassesses the taxonomy of Porphyra species in the region.