Lembongan tops

On Nusa Lembongan the red algae Kappaphycus alvarezii is farmed for its content of Carragenan, an important ingredient in processed food. All of the shallow, protected bay outside our hotel is used for this labour intensive aquaculture. Read more here and here.The UW pictures from Lembongan are here.

1
Lines with tied plant fragments are carried to...
Lines with tied plant fragments are carried to the beach
2
Men carry two baskets
Men carry two baskets
3
The prepared lines are taken out to the farms ...
The prepared lines are taken out to the farms in shallow water
4
Rarely, a cart is used
Rarely, a cart is used
5
It's a family business
It's a family business
6
Women carry one basket
Women carry one basket
7
Color vary from deep brown to bright green
Color vary from deep brown to bright green
8
The red algae Kappaphycus alvarezii
The red algae Kappaphycus alvarezii
9
Sun drying
Sun drying
10
Sun dried and bleached algae
Sun dried and bleached algae
11
We had a full moon so the tide was very low, e...
We had a full moon so the tide was very low, exposing the plots
12
The lines are stretched between two wooden pol...
The lines are stretched between two wooden poles
13
Lines with tied algae fragments
Lines with tied algae fragments
14
We believe this net is a trap to keep the gree...
We believe this net is a trap to keep the green algae from infesting the plot
15
Freshly harvested plots. The cycle is about tw...
Freshly harvested plots. The cycle is about two months.
16
After the algae have been harvested the lines ...
After the algae have been harvested the lines are cleansed by rubbing with sand
17
The knots need to be untangled
The knots need to be untangled
18
Preparation of the lines
Preparation of the lines
19
All of the protected bay is used for farming. ...
All of the protected bay is used for farming. Gunung Agung in the background
20
Leftovers are collected by those who can't wor...
Leftovers are collected by those who can't work their own plot
21
And sometimes maybe not only leftovers...
And sometimes maybe not only leftovers...
22
A reef protects the seaweed farming bay
A reef protects the seaweed farming bay

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