Rumput Laut Kappaphycus Sp. Merupakan Salah Satu Komoditas Unggulan Di Kota Tarakan. Rumput Laut Kappaphycus Sp. Memiliki Nilai Ekonomis Penting Karena Menghasilkan Karaginan. Karaginan Umumnya Digunakan Sebagai Bahan Tambahan Industri Farmasi Dan Kosmetik, Pengatur Keseimbangan, Bahan Pengental, Pembentuk Gel Dan Pengemulsi. Karakteristik Mutu Karaginan Dipengaruhi Beberapa Faktor Salah Satunya Umur Panen. Penelitian Ini Bertujuan Untuk Mengetahui Karakteristik Mutu Karaginan Rumput Laut Kappaphycus Sp. Terhadap Umur Panen Yang Berbeda. Penelitian Dilaksanakan Pada Bulan November 2014 – Maret 2015. Penelitian Ini Diawali Dengan Mengambil Hasil Budidaya Rumput Laut Petani Pantai Amal Lama Kota Tarakan Berdasarkan 5 Taraf Umur Panen Yang Berbeda Yaitu 30 Hari, 37 Hari, 45 Hari, 52 Hari Dan 60 Hari. Karaginan Yang Dihasilkan Pada Setiap Umur Dievaluasi Karakteristiknya Seperti: Rendemen, Kadar Air, Dan Kadar Abu, Masing-Masing Dilakukan Sebanyak 3 Kali Ulangan. Rancangan Yang Digunakan Pada Penelitian Ini Adalah Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL). Hasil Penelitian Menunjukkan Nilai Rata–Rata Rendeman Tertinggi Pada Umur Panen 52 Hari Yaitu 61,87 %, Diikuti Berturut-Turut Umur Panen 60 Hari, 45 Hari, 37 Hari Dan 30 Hari Dengan Nilai Rata-Rata Rendeman Sebesar 60,67 %, 60,60%, 59,00 % Dan 58,67 %. Nilai Rata – Rata Kadar Air Berkisar Antara 7,33%– 10%, Sedangkan Nilai Rata-Rata Kadar Abu Berkisar Antara 17%–18,33 %. Berdasarkan Analisis Sidik Ragam, H1 Diterima Yang Berarti Umur Panen Rumput Laut Memberikan Pengaruh Yang Nyata Terhadap Karakteristik Mutu Karaginan.
Kata Kunci: Kappaphycus Sp., Umur Panen, Karakteristik Mutu Karaginan

The Kappaphycus Of Seaweed Sp Is One Of The Superiors Of Commodity And Kappaphycus Of Seaweed Sp Also Has Important Of The Economic Value Because It Produces Carrageenan In Tarakan Town. Furthermore, In The Commonly, Carrageenan Was Used By The Pharmaceutical’s Industry For Additional Of Composition’s Cosmetic Such As, Stabilizers, Thickeners, Gelling And Emulsifying. Besides, There Was Several Factors That Effects Of The Characteristic Of Quality’s Carrageenan Like Harvesting Of Carrageenan. The Purpose Of This Experiment To Know About The Different The Quality Characteristic Of Kappaphycus Seaweed Carrageenan Sp Such Harvesting For Kappaphycus Of Seaweed. In This Study, The Writer Starts From Taking The Cultivation Of Seaweed Farmer’s Based On 5 Different Levels Of Harvest Age Were 30 Days, 37 Days, 45 Days, 52 Days And 60 Days. For This Experiment, The Writer Used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) And This Experiment Conducted On November 2014 And March 2015. In This Case, Knowing The Result Of It Carrageenan Through Some Characteristics In Each Ages Such As Yield, Moisture Content And Ash Content, To Know The Total’s Of Those Did 3 Repetitions Method. Based On Of Data, The Results Showed The Average Value Of The Highest Yield At Harvest Time 52 Days Was 61.87%, Followed By Successive Harvest Age Of 60 Days, 45 Days, 37 Days And 30 Days With An Average Value Of The Yield Were 60.67%, 60, 60%, 59.00% And 58.67%. Value - Average Water Content Ranged From 7.33% To 10%, While The Average Value Of The Ash Content Ranging From 17% -18.33%. Based On The Analysis Of Variance (ANOVA), The Seaweed’s Harvesting Gave The Significant Of Effect On The Carrageenan’s Quality Of Characteristics. Keywords: Kappaphycus Sp., Harvesting, Quality Characteristic Of Carrageenan