African seaweed shows potential as aquaculture feed in Australia

A seaweed used in South Africa to feed abalone could soon be found in South Australia.

A Nuffield Scholar from Eyre Peninsula has been looking at how to farm seaweed as a food source for aquaculture. Adam Butterworth said the fast-growing green seaweed could help boost production of farmed abalone.

He noted that the seaweed has a number of properties. "One I think, which is very interesting, is their impact on bacteria, and they can basically change gut micro-flora," he said.

Seaweed can actually overcome some of the pathogenic vibrios or other bacteria which impact on the health of the organism, he said.