Scientists discovered that a type of seaweed called Sargassum fusiforme can help shrimp farms stay healthier by removing harmful ammonia from the water. In experiments, the seaweed removed 88% of ammonia in the early stages and created a better environment for shrimp to grow. The seaweed also helped create a more balanced community of helpful bacteria in the water, which protected the shrimp from stress. This discovery could help shrimp farmers grow more shrimp in smaller spaces while keeping the water cleaner and reducing pollution.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a specific type of seaweed could remove poisonous ammonia from shrimp farm water and help shrimp grow better
  • Who participated: The study involved shrimp (P. vannamei species) raised in water with and without the seaweed, though the exact number of shrimp wasn’t specified in the abstract
  • Key finding: The seaweed removed 88% of harmful ammonia from the water in the first stage, and shrimp raised with the seaweed grew 1.35% faster and stayed healthier than shrimp in regular farm systems
  • What it means for you: If you eat farmed shrimp, this research suggests farms may soon be able to raise healthier shrimp with less water pollution, though this technology is still being tested and isn’t widely used yet

The Research Details

Researchers conducted an experiment where they added Sargassum fusiforme seaweed to shrimp farm water and tracked what happened over time. They measured how much ammonia (a toxic chemical that builds up in crowded farms) the seaweed removed, how the bacteria in the water changed, and how well the shrimp grew. They also looked at whether the seaweed itself stayed healthy and how the shrimp’s bodies responded to stress. The study was divided into early and later stages to see how things changed as time went on.

Shrimp farms often have a big problem: too much ammonia builds up in the water because there are so many shrimp in one place. This ammonia can poison the shrimp and pollute the ocean. Testing whether seaweed can naturally clean the water is important because it could be a cheaper and more environmentally friendly solution than other methods. Understanding how the seaweed works (by removing ammonia and improving bacteria balance) helps scientists know if this method could work on real farms.

This study provides useful experimental data, but readers should know that the sample size wasn’t clearly reported, which makes it harder to judge how reliable the results are. The research was published in a peer-reviewed journal focused on marine environments, which is a good sign. However, this appears to be a laboratory or controlled experiment, not a test on actual working farms, so results might differ in real-world conditions.

What the Results Show

The seaweed was very effective at removing ammonia in the early stages, eliminating 88% of the harmful ammonia in the water. This is a significant finding because it shows the seaweed could potentially solve one of the biggest problems in shrimp farming. In the later stages of the experiment, shrimp that were exposed to some ammonia stress actually grew faster (1.35% growth rate) than shrimp in other farming systems, suggesting they developed better defenses against stress. The seaweed also changed the bacteria in the water in a positive way—after 10 days, there were more types of helpful bacteria and a healthier balance overall. The shrimp’s bodies showed increased activity in protective enzymes that fight damage and boost immunity, indicating they were healthier and better able to handle stress.

The seaweed itself showed some interesting changes during the experiment. In the early stages, the seaweed’s photosynthesis (the process where it makes energy from sunlight) increased, and it built up more protective proteins and stress-fighting enzymes. However, as time went on, the seaweed absorbed less nitrogen from the water and grew more slowly. This suggests the seaweed was working hard to clean the water, which took energy away from its own growth. The reduction in microalgae (tiny plants) in the early stage was also noted, which could be beneficial since excessive algae growth can be a problem in farms.

This research builds on the known fact that ammonia is a major problem in crowded aquaculture systems. Previous studies have shown that various methods can reduce ammonia, but using seaweed is a more natural and potentially sustainable approach. The finding that the seaweed improves bacterial balance is particularly interesting because it suggests a multi-step benefit—the seaweed doesn’t just remove ammonia directly, but also creates conditions where helpful bacteria thrive. This is a more sophisticated understanding than simply removing a toxic chemical.

The study doesn’t clearly report how many shrimp were used or the exact conditions of the experiment, making it harder to evaluate the reliability of the results. The research appears to have been conducted in controlled laboratory conditions rather than on actual working farms, so the results might not translate perfectly to real-world shrimp farming. The study also doesn’t compare the seaweed method to other ammonia-removal methods, so it’s unclear whether seaweed is better than existing solutions. Additionally, the long-term effects of using this seaweed method aren’t discussed, so we don’t know if it would work consistently over months or years of farming.

The Bottom Line

This research suggests that using Sargassum fusiforme seaweed in shrimp farms may help reduce ammonia pollution and improve shrimp health (moderate confidence level). However, this is still experimental research, and more testing on actual farms is needed before widespread adoption. Shrimp farmers interested in this method should wait for larger-scale studies and practical guidelines before making major changes.

Shrimp farmers and aquaculture companies should pay attention to this research as a potential solution for water quality problems. Environmental organizations concerned about aquaculture pollution may find this interesting as a more sustainable approach. Consumers who care about how their seafood is raised might appreciate knowing that cleaner farming methods are being developed. However, this research is too early-stage for individual consumers to make purchasing decisions based on it.

Based on this research, if a shrimp farm were to use this seaweed method, the ammonia removal would happen relatively quickly (within days), and shrimp growth improvements might be visible within weeks. However, this is based on controlled experiments, and real farms might see different timelines. It will likely take several years of additional research before this method becomes standard practice in the shrimp farming industry.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • If you’re tracking seafood sources, note the farm name and date of purchase, then follow up in 6-12 months to see if that farm has adopted seaweed-based water treatment methods. You could create a simple tracker: Farm Name | Date Purchased | Water Treatment Method (if available) | Repeat Purchase (Yes/No)
  • Consider choosing shrimp from farms that use sustainable water treatment methods when available. You could use an app to research which farms near you are experimenting with or have adopted seaweed-based or other eco-friendly aquaculture practices, then prioritize purchasing from those sources when possible
  • Over the next 1-2 years, periodically check seafood sustainability apps and certifications to see if seaweed-based aquaculture treatment becomes a recognized standard. Track which retailers or brands start promoting this method, and use that as a signal of farms adopting more sustainable practices

This research is preliminary and based on controlled laboratory experiments, not real-world farm conditions. The findings about seaweed’s ability to improve shrimp farm water quality are promising but not yet proven for commercial use. Anyone involved in aquaculture or making purchasing decisions based on farming methods should consult with aquaculture specialists and wait for larger-scale studies before implementing changes. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional agricultural or environmental advice.