OPTIMIZATION OF SEAWEED FARMING AREAS IN SUMBA ISLAND, EAST NUSA TENGGARA PROVINCEDONNY MERCYS BESSIE, WILSON L. TISERA, MUHAMAD AMIN, NINA JENY LAPINANGGA, VANIA R. T. TISERA AND WELMA PESULIMAAbstract Seaweed is the main commodity of East Nusa Tenggara Province and is the belle of marine aquaculture in coastal communities. In the last decade, seaweed farming has been an economic activity that is of great interest to the people of the coast of Sumba Island. The dominant types of seaweed farming there are Kapppahycus alvarezii and Kappahycus striatum. Sumba Island has the potential for seaweed farming of 17,752 ha and only 42.86% has been utilized, with a production of 5,433,440.90 wet tons. Seaweed farming activities were chosen because of their advantages: a relatively short harvest period of 45 days, easy access to farming equipment, easy farming at low cost, and the availability of a market. Besides being easy to farm, the selling price is very good. These conditions have resulted in a large number of farming activities and their spread is poorly controlled and has even penetrated into conservation areas. This study aimed to examine the suitability of areas and the carrying capacity of waters in efforts to manage sustainable seaweed farming on the island of Sumba. Data collection methods used in this research were surveys and observation methods. The results showed that the suitability of seaweed farming areas in Sumba Island was categorized as Suitable and Very Suitable with a value range of 205 â 295, except for Pero Konda Waters which was categorized as Not Suitable so that it was not recommended for seaweed farming. The development of seaweed farming areas is still possible by taking into account the carrying capacity, with a maximum tolerance limit of 75% of the total area of suitable waters. |