Last week, National Secretary for Mariculture and Fisheries, Andrea Lins Ribas, visited the shellfish farms and fishing industry in Palos. The municipality of Grande Florianópolis is responsible for the production of 65% of the mussels consumed throughout Brazil.

Palhoça products are nationally recognized – Photo: Epagri/ND

Accompanied by representatives of Epagri and the municipal department of mariculture and fisheries of Palos, Andrea Ribas got acquainted with the work of several centers for the production of seafood, oysters, scallops and seaweed located in the city.

Macroalgae will become biofertilizers

This is the portfolio director’s fourth visit to the municipality. In April of this year, Palos mariculture farmers received permission to grow macroalgae used as fertilizer. Epagri and UFSC have been researching and promoting the cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii macroalgae in Santa Catarina for over 10 years.

Macroalgae are considered an excellent source of income and can be sold as bio-fertilizers and in the production of carrageenan used in the food industry, as well as in the production of cosmetics and textiles.

According to Edson de Quadra, extension officer at Epagri in Palos, mariculture has invested in infrastructure, such as buying equipment to produce bio-fertilizers from raw materials that can be used in agriculture.

Environmental licensing has been issued by the Fundação Cambirela do Meio Ambiente de Palhoça (FCAM). Epagri, Secretariat of Aquaculture and Fisheries (SAP) and Municipal Secretariat of Mariculture and Fisheries.