*3,789 tons in 2022, 2,744 tons in 2023, and 1,748 tons in 2024 

The Seaweed Research Institute of NIFS revealed the complicated life-history stages of C. fulvescens including asexual and sexual reproduction phases, succeeding in developing the technique for artificial seeding using cyst-zygote*. It also revealed the optimal indoor conditions for the formation of cyst-zygote, conducted field application tests, and verified the possibility that steady and sustainable production of C. fulvescens is possible through artificial seeding even in sea areas unsuitable for natural seeding.

*A cyst zygote refers to the stage where the fertilized egg (zygote) develops into a dormant, protective, cyst-like structure. This resting stage is crucial for the organism’s survival and life cycle especially for commercial cultivation.