Cultivation of cystocarpic, tetrasporic and vegetative fronds of Chondracanthus chamissoi (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) on ropes at two localities in northern Chile

Chondracanthus chamissoi is a red algae that is highly valuated as a delicacy in Japan bringing a good price. However, this market demands a high quality product that can not be easily harvested from natural populations. Here we present results showing that it is technically feasible to cultivate this species on ropes in the sea. We tested two sites in northern Chile comparing the performance of reproductive and vegetative specimens. The best results were obtained at Calderilla bay using vegetative fronds.