The Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography has finalised a project to transfer techniques in cultivating, processing, and preserving edible seaweed to soldiers living in Truong Sa island district, in the central coastal Khanh Hoa province.

A project to grow the ‘sea grape’ species has been piloted at Navy Zone 4 in the province’s Cam Ranh city for one year, bringing about many positive outcomes. Sea grapes grow rapidly and are able to produce a maximum of 10kg per square metre, according to Nguyen Xuan Hoa from the institute’s marine flora department.

Sea grapes, rich in nutrition, take up a relatively small space, are easy to nurture and are well suited to island environments such as Truong Sa.

Some 40 local officers and soldiers on the island have received training in farming techniques and methods to preserve the sea grapes.

Once processed, sea grapes are used in many traditional dishes in Japan and the Philippines.

This edible species has been farmed elsewhere in Khanh Hoa in recent years, reaching a high economic value.-VNA