TY  - BOOK
AU  - Jayasuriya, P.M.A.
TI  - The Status of Culture and Utilization of Seaweeds in Sri Lanka
CY  - FAO
N1  - Sri Lanka has a coastline of approximately 1700 km along which many varieties of seaweeds are found. About 320 species belonging to different families have been identified by several workers (Durairatnam, 1961; Barton, 1903; and Boergesen, 1936).In 1952 the Ceylon Fisheries Research station initiated the first systematic survey of the island's coastal waters for seaweeds with a view to utilizing those of economic importance. These investigations (Durairatnam, 1961) revealed that there were many species of algae on the west coast, but very few on the east coast (Fig. 1). The most common seaweeds found in Sri Lanka are the brown seaweeds belonging to the genus Sarqassum. They grow on rocks and other soiled objects but easily break loose from their attachment during heavy monsoons and are washed ashore. Some float about in the ocean in large masses. Extensive beds of seaweeds are found in Jaffna, Palk Strait, Gulf of Mannar, Pearl bank off Silarathurai and along the southwest coast of Sri Lanka extending from Ambalangoda to Galle. The extent of the beds and intensity of growth diminish progressively from north to south along the west coast.
Duraitamam and Medcof (1955) discovered two species of seaweeds, Gracilaria edulis and G. verrucosa, known as Ceylon moss. Large quantities of these seaweeds were found in Kalpitiya, Trincomalee and Mannar (Fig. 2)

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