PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON THE PROXIMATE COMPOSITION OF SOME SELECTED SEAWEEDS FROM MKOMANI AND KIBUYUNI, KENYA

Abstract

The proximate composition of various seaweed species collected from Mkomani and Kibuyuni sites along theKenya coast was determined The seaweed species had a moderate to high ash content. The seaweed with thelowest ash content (12.76±0.18% dw) was Ulva reticulata and the highest ash content (67.60±0.02% dw) wasHalimeda macroloba. Protein contents were low to moderate, with Hypnea musciformis having the highest value(14.17±0.04 dw), followed by Ulva reticulata (11.87±0.10% dw). Dictyota sp. (variety 1) had the lowest proteincontent (1.71±0.04% dw). The crude fat contents were within the range mentioned for most seaweeds (<3% dw).The crude fibre contents for the selected seaweeds ranged between 4.00–18.06% dw. Based on the biochemicalanalysis, the composition of the studied seaweed species is comparable to that of several seaweeds traditionallyused in human and animal nutrition thus may be utilized for animal and human consumption.