Halophyte plants, commonly referred to as sea vegetables, have been a traditional source of nutrition, harvested from coastlines around the world. Their cultivation as crops represent a burgeoning field within aquaculture, offering significant opportunities for sustainable agricultural development in the broader Caribbean region. Recognized for their environmental sustainability, halophytes serve as carbon-sequestering agents and purify coastal and aquaculture systems by removing excess nutrients. They also thrive in extreme conditions without freshwater and possess natural pest and disease resistance due to their high salt content.
Pioneering pilot-scale studies conducted by Megan Davis and colleagues at the Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have showcased the successful growth of sea vegetables within an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system, utilizing nutrients from byproducts of fish, shrimp, and other marine species. This innovative approach has been transferred and applied to the cultivation of native Puerto Rican halophytes for both culinary applications and coastal restoration efforts. This project is taking place at the Naguabo Aquaculture Center, located at the Naguabo Fishing Association, and is a partnership project with FAU Harbor Branch, Conservación ConCiencia, and Naguabo Fishing Association. The project is funded by the USDA ARS and Puerto Rico Sea Grant with the goal to foster a new segment within the aquaculture industry that promises ecological, economic, and nutritional benefits. This initiative focuses on growing sea asparagus (Salicornia bigelovii), sea purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum), and saltwort (Batis maritima).
Despite their historical consumption, sea vegetables have largely faded from contemporary Puerto Rican cuisine. This project aims to reintroduce these nutrient-rich vegetables to the domestic market and recently local chefs are incorporating these cultured sea vegetables into culinary dishes. In addition, an environmental organization transplanted aquacultured sea purslane for coastal restoration. This initiative highlights the potential of halophytes to become a highly desirable green innovation aquaculture crop for Puerto Rico and other places in the Caribbean.