Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis beds along the west coast of the Gulf of California, Mexico

The seasonal variation of the biomass of Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Bory) Dawson, Acleto et Foldvik was measured for 18 months in Bahía de las Ánimas. Maximum biomass per unit area (11.1 kg wet wt m−2) occurred in the spring of 1995 and most of the biomass was lost by summer. Agar gel strength and yield were 891 g cm−2 and 14%, respectively for spring samples. Biomass per unit area was also evaluated during spring from all the beds of G. lemaneiformis in 850 km of the west coast of the Gulf of California. The total biomass estimated in 1995 was 5751 ± 404 dry t. The total biomass for spring of 1996 was about 30% less (4060 ± 246 dry t). Commercial exploitation of G. lemaneiformis started in the west coast of the Gulf of California in 1995.