Effect of the Dry Season on Growth, Production of Seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in Tesabela Waters, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Kapaphycus alvarezii is red seaweed (Rhodophyceae) which is a superior commodity of aquaculture in Indonesia. The development of seaweed cultivation areas can be influenced by the biophysical environmental conditions of the waters and climatic conditions. One limiting factor in the cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii is the time of cultivation. The purpose of this study is the influence of the dry season on the growth and production of Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed. Primary data collected in this study include data on seaweed cultivation patterns and cultivation time, namely growth and production data of Kappaphycus alvarezii. Secondary data were obtained from various related agencies including the Climatology Meteorological Agency and the Office of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries. The collected data is analyzed and discussed descriptively accompanied by pictures. The results of this study indicate that the productivity of seaweed development land is strongly influenced by climatic conditions. The existence of climate change both nationally and globally (El Niño and La Niña) greatly affects the time pattern of marine culture in Tesabela. Kapapphycus alvarezii cultivation time generally occurs in months where rainfall is low, namely air temperature (270C - 300 C), salinity 29-31 ppm, pH 7-7.5.The average relative growth rate for 29 0 C: 55.7 gr /week%. Temperature of 310C: at 50.9 gr / week%, temperature at 32 0C – 33 0 C at 40.6 gr / week%, while at temperature 34 0c– 35 0 c at 29.7 gr / week%. while production at 29 0C was 72.4kg gr / m2 /six weeks, temperature 31 0 C is 70 kg / m2 /6week, temperature 320C, temperature 33 0 C is 67.8 kg / m2 / six weeks, while temperature is 34 – 35 0 C is 31.7 kg / m2 / six weeks.