The role of the green seaweed Ulva as a dietary supplement for full life-cycle grow-out of Tripneustes gratilla

The combination of sea urchin/Ulva systems will be very beneficial to the commercial production of Tripneustes gratilla, in terms of lowering farm operational costs, as fresh Ulva armoricana can produce better/comparable somatic growth to high protein (26%) formulated feeds (0U and 20U). Dry formulated feeds such as 20U should be used at the end of cultivation as a finishing feed, 2 months prior to harvest, to enhance gonad growth and increase product yield. Findings from this study will contribute to lowering operating costs and help to improve the commercial success of echinoculture operations, focused on the production of T. gratilla, in South Africa and around the world.