Edible Seaweeds of Fiji: An Ethnobotanical Study

Seven taxa of seaweeds feature in the diet of native Fijians: Caulerpa racemosa, Caulerpa racemosa var. occidentalis, Codium bulbopilum, Hypnea pannosa, Gracilaria sp., Solieria robusta, and Acanthophora spicifera, with the preferred species being Caulerpa and Hypnea. A survey of the taxonomy and nomenclature of the edible species is provided, together with the Fijian names for the species, a description of harvesting, marketing and the socio-economic role of seaweeds in Fijian society. The harvesting, sale and consumption of edible seaweeds is almost exclusively an activity of women and girls from the native Fijian (Melanesian) population, and is organized through family and village groups in a cooperative manner. Seaweeds are regarded as a delicacy by the Fijians, who consume them using a variety of recipes, which are described