MAKASSAR, umi.ac.id – A team of researchers from Universitas Muslim Indonesia (UMI) has developed an innovative Floating Seaweed Net Cage (Keramba Jaring Apung Rumput Laut/KJARL) as an alternative technology to address various challenges faced in conventional seaweed cultivation.
The innovation was developed by Prof. Dr. Ir. Abdul Rauf, M.Si. as the Principal Researcher, together with Prof. Dr. Ir. Harlina, M.P. and Dr. Ir. Muhammad Ikhsan Wamnebo, S.Pi., M.Si. as members of the research team. KJARL is designed as a cultivation system using cages, eliminating the need for longline ropes and the process of tying individual seedlings. The system also helps reduce the risk of seaweed being lost due to breakage and being carried away by currents or waves, while making maintenance and harvesting more practical.
“This innovation was developed in response to real challenges faced by seaweed farmers. With KJARL, seedlings no longer need to be tied to longline ropes, broken seaweed remains inside the cage, and harvesting becomes easier. The cages can also be relocated when environmental conditions at the cultivation site are no longer suitable,” explained the Principal Researcher, Prof. Dr. Ir. Abdul Rauf, M.Si.
In addition to improving operational efficiency, the net system used in KJARL provides protection against predators such as rabbitfish and helps reduce the entry of marine debris into the cultivation area. The cage design also makes cleaning easier, allowing farmers to control sediment accumulation on the seaweed.
According to Prof. Dr. Ir. Harlina, M.P., the development of KJARL is aimed not only at improving cultivation efficiency but also at enhancing the quality of the harvest.
“We aim to create a more controlled cultivation medium so that seaweed is better protected from predators, marine debris, and sedimentation. These conditions are expected to support seaweed growth while producing cleaner and higher-quality seaweed,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ir. Muhammad Ikhsan Wamnebo, S.Pi., M.Si., emphasized the flexibility of KJARL in its application.
“KJARL is designed to be easy to operate and can be relocated when water conditions are no longer favorable. This provides farmers with greater flexibility to adjust cultivation sites according to the dynamics of the aquatic environment,” he explained.
The UMI research team hopes that the KJARL innovation can be further developed and more widely implemented as an appropriate technology for seaweed farmers. The innovation is part of UMI’s efforts to promote the downstream application of university research so that research outcomes can provide tangible benefits to coastal communities while supporting more efficient, adaptive, and sustainable seaweed cultivation.