| Summary: | .The purpose of this study is to find out the suitability of water for Eucheuma seaweeds in the sea waters of Kotabaru, based on physical shore suitability, time, and water quality.
Physico-chemical and spatial data were collected using the stratified proportional sampling method. The data on water quality and suitability for time analysis were qualitative graphics and tables, while geographic information system was used for regional suitability.
Quality parameter, temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, phosphates, and nitrates at the waters of Tanjungpelayar, Tanjungtengah, and Tanjungujung regions, in the Pulau Laut Barat district, indicated that the conditions were still suitable for seaweed cultivation.
The evaluation of physical parameters, stream, wave, and tidal currents showed that the factor which mostly influenced the time of cultivation was the high wave. Tidal currents indicated that seaweed could be cultivated all year round. Therefore, the time of cultivation must be done during the right month. The Eucheuma seaweed might be cultivated on January, February, March, October, November, and December, i.e at the end of the second transition period (October-December). The "Monsoon Westerlies" characterized by high wave, can be tolerated by Eucheuma, implying that when it is cultivated during this time, damage due to hard winds and waves usually followed by slow stream flow could probably be avoided. Total harvesting time is at the onset of the first transition period (April-June). At this time, stronger winds start blowing and aggravated by stronger waves, which can definitely damage the plant. Meanwhile the period between June and August is not suitable for cultivation because this season is of the "Easterlies Monsoon".
Finally, evaluation of the water regions indicated three suitable regional levels for Eucheuma seaweed cultivation, i.e. suitable and easy, moderately suitable, and unsuitable for base planting, that were 24.36%, 33.85%, and 41.78% of the total research area, respectively. Whereas free-base and float planting were 33.85%,14.65%, and 51.46% of the total research area. From this evaluation, it can be recommended that free base planting method is more appropriate to be applied at the research area.
Keywords:region suitability, seawaters, water quality, seaweed cultivation
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