The cultivation of two red macroalgal species, Chondracanthus teedei (Martens ex Roth) and Gracilariopsis longissima (S.G.
Gmelin) Steentoft M, L.M. Irvine&W.F. Farnham, was assessed in a traditional salina, a system of earthen ponds used for marine
salt extraction taking advantages of solar evaporation and tidal cycle. Vegetative thalli of both species were cultivated in rafts
holding polypropylene ropes, from January to June 2015, when lock-gates were opened during the period of no salt production.
The effects of three factors in the net growth ratewere analysed: seedling density, watermotion and seasonality.Water motion and
seasonality showed a significant effect in the growth of both species. Seedling density only showed a significant effect in the
growth of Gp. longissima, where the growth rates improved at high seedling densities. Values of tissue N were generally lower
than critical quotas, suggesting that maximum growth was limited by the concentrations of dissolved nutrients. In addition, the
high salinity and temperatures in late spring seemed to condition the values of net growth rate. The study suggested that
macroalgal cultivation of these two valuable species could be a promising complementary activity in the integrated management
of the salina during winter and early spring, when salinity is lower than 40 PSU, if nutrients in the water are increased with the
semi-intensive fish cultivation and the hydrodynamic conditions along the rafts are enhanced.
