Identificamos 43 países tropicales o subtropicales que actualmente cultivan o han cultivado carragenofitas. Analizamos la literatura gris y la revisada por pares sobre la industria para determinar qué se conoce sobre las técnicas de cultivo de algas marinas y sus impactos sobre los ecosistemas locales, organismos y servicios ambientales. Aunque se ha mencionado que dicho cultivo de algas marinas es una alternativa sustentable para la pesca destructiva como medio de subsistencia, no se ha realizado una revisión completa de sus impactos ambientales para evaluar su potencial beneficio de conservación. Impactos e Implicaciones Ambientales del Cultivo de Algas Marinas Carragenofitas Tropicales Resumen El cultivo de las algas marinas Kappaphycus y Eucheuma se encuentra distribuido extensamente en los trópicos y generalmente se realiza para extraer el polisacárido carragenano, el cual se usa en la industria comercial. However, some of these changes may adversely affect farmers and associated communities. Our findings are consistent with suggestions to mitigate impact on local ecosystems by shifting seaweed farms to deeper, sandy-bottom areas. The impacts of seaweed farming may not be as destructive as some other human activities, but they should still be considered when establishing new farms or managing existing farm sites. Two studies showed changes to herbivorous fish communities in adjacent areas because seaweed farms changed the environment, whereas in 2 studies measures of overall abundance or diversity did not change. On coral reefs, overgrowth of corals by farmed seaweed species was documented in 8 cases. Placement of seaweed farms above seagrass beds led to reduced productivity and shoot density in 5 studies and reduced or altered meiofaunal abundance and diversity in 6 studies. Ecosystem impacts of seaweed farming were measured directly in 33 publications with variable results. We identified 43 tropical or subtropical countries that are currently cultivating or have cultivated carrageenophytes. We reviewed the peer-reviewed and industry gray literature to determine what is known about seaweed farming techniques and their impacts on local ecosystems, organisms, and ecosystem services. Although such seaweed farming has been cited as a sustainable alternative livelihood to destructive fishing, there has not been a comprehensive review of its environmental impacts to assess its potential conservation benefit. Field-based cultivation of Kappaphycus and Eucheuma seaweeds is widespread across the tropics and is largely done to extract the polysaccharide carrageenan, which is used in commercial applications.
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