Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying is undertaking steps for seaweed development in coastal areas to provide additional income to fishermen. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) supports seaweed cultivation, with approved projects worth ₹195 crore over the last five years, including a Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu. Seaweed production has increased significantly from 18,890 tonnes in 2015 to 74,083 tonnes in 2024. For Gujarat, developmental projects worth ₹897.54 crore have been approved, including seaweed cultivation initiatives with various institutions and local communities.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **National Seaweed Development Initiatives:**
* India has a 11,099 km coastline with potential for seaweed cultivation.
* 384 sites (24,707 hectares) have been identified as suitable for seaweed cultivation.
* The Department of Fisheries (DoF) implements PMMSY, prioritizing seaweed cultivation.
* PMMSY supports seaweed cultivation, installation of Rafts and monolinestubenets, establishment of Seaweed Seedbank, Prefeasibility Assessment studies, awareness creation, training, and capacity building.
* Lakshadweep is notified as a Seaweed Cluster.
* Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI is the Centre of Excellence for seaweed farming and research.
* Guidelines for importing seaweed germplasm have been issued.
* NITI Aayog has released a Seaweed Policy Report.
* An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Seaweed Development have been established.
* **Gujarat Specific Initiatives:**
* Fisheries developmental projects of ₹897.54 crore have been approved for Gujarat under PMMSY.
* Seaweed cultivation is being conducted in Kutch District with the State Fisheries Department, CSIR-CSMCRI, ICAR-CMFRI, BSF, local fishermen, and coastal communities.
* Three projects have been approved for feasibility studies and training in Kori Creek areas.
* A training program on seaweed culture was organized on June 5th, 2023, at Lakki Village, with 250 villagers participating.
* A National Conference on Seaweed was organized on January 27th, 2024, at Kori Creek, Gujarat, with approximately 450 participants.
* ICAR-CMFRI organized a master trainer program for locals from Kori Creek from January 23rd, 2024, to February 15th, 2024, in Tamil Nadu.
* The State Government of Gujarat has a seaweed cultivation scheme since 2018.
* One seaweed bank and seaweed processing unit have been approved for FY 2025-26.
* Gujarat is collaborating with ICAR-CMFRI on GIS-Driven Spatial Zonation for sustainable mariculture.
* Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, is a "Center of Excellence in Seaweed Research and Utilization".
Impact Analysis:
* **Fishermen and Coastal Communities:**
* Impact: Provided with an additional source of income through seaweed cultivation.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs, adopt seaweed cultivation techniques, and engage with the provided resources.
* **State Government of Gujarat:**
* Impact: Receives financial assistance and collaborative support for seaweed development projects.
* Action Required: Collaborate with central institutions, implement state-level seaweed cultivation schemes, and strengthen market linkages.
* **Research Institutions (CSMCRI, CMFRI, Kamdhenu University):**
* Impact: Involved in research, training, and feasibility studies to support seaweed cultivation.
* Action Required: Conduct research, provide training, and assist in the implementation of seaweed cultivation projects.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A flagship scheme implemented by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, to support employment generation and provide additional income to fishermen and coastal communities through activities like seaweed cultivation.
Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI): The government department responsible for the subject matter of seaweed cultivation and its related activities under the Allocation of Business Rules (AoBR).
Gujarat: A state in India where the government is undertaking various initiatives to promote seaweed cultivation, including projects in the Kutch District and Kori Creek areas.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India where a Seaweed Park worth 127 crore has been approved under the PMMSY.
Lakshadweep: A Union Territory in India that has been notified as a Seaweed Cluster to promote seaweed farming.
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI): A research institute whose Mandapam Regional Centre has been notified as the Centre of Excellence for promoting seaweed farming and research activities. They are also collaborating with the Gujarat government on mariculture development.
CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI): A Research and Development institution involved in seaweed cultivation in creek areas of Kutch District, Gujarat.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India that has released a Seaweed Policy Report for the development of the seaweed sector.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 371
TO BE ANSWERED ON 22ND JULY, 2025
Development of Seaweed in Coastal Areas
371. Shri Parshottambhai Rupala:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be
pleased to state:
(a) the steps being taken by the Government for development of Seaweed in coastal
areas for assured additional source of income to Fishermen;
(b) whether the Government has prepared any specific action plan in this regard for
the State of Gujarat, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details of the actual progress made by the Government in this regard; and
(d) the number of schemes approved by the Government in this regard?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)
(a): Indian coastline of 11,099 km with favourable conditions has immense potential for
seaweed cultivation. The Research Institutions have identified 384 sites covering 24,707
hectares across the coastline of India, as suitable for seaweed cultivation. The subject
matter of seaweed cultivation and its related activities has been allocated to the
Department of Fisheries, Government of India (DoF, GoI) under the Allocation of Business
Rules (AoBR). The DoF, GoI is implementing a flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Matsya
Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) and seaweed cultivation is one of the priority activity identified
under the PMMSY to support employment generation and additional source of income to
fishermen and coastal communities. The PMMSY inter-alia envisages support towards
seaweed cultivation and its related activities, which are under implementation in the
coastal States/Union Territories (UTs). Under the PMMSY, during last 5 years (2020-25)
the projects worth ₹195 crore have been approved, including the establishment of a
Seaweed Park (₹127 crore) in Tamil Nadu. Besides, financial assistance is provided to
beneficiaries for installation of Rafts and monolines/tubenets, establishment of Seaweed
Seedbank, Pre-feasibility Assessment studies, awareness creation, training and capacity
building programs in various States and Union Territories (UTs) etc. Furthermore,
Lakshadweep has been notified as a Seaweed Cluster, and the Mandapam Regional
Centre of the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has been notified
as the Centre of Excellence for promoting seaweed farming and research activities.
Subsequently, Guidelines for importing seaweed germplasm has been issued by the
Department. Besides, the NITI Ayog has also released a Seaweed Policy Report for the
development of this sector. An Institutional mechanism has been established by the DoF,GoI in the form of an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) and the Technical Advisory
Committee (TAC) on Seaweed Development for coordinated development of this
important sector in the country. As a result of these initiatives, the seaweed production has
increased from 18,890 tonnes in 2015 to 74,083 tonnes in 2024.
(b) to (d): During last 5 years, under PMMSY the DoF, GoI has approved fisheries
developmental projects of ₹897.54 crore to the State Government of Gujarat. This includes
installation of Monoline/Tubenets for seaweed cultivation as requested by the State. In
addition the DoF, GoI has also taken up Seaweed cultivation in creek areas of Kutch
District, Gujarat in active collaboration with State Fisheries Department, R&D Institutions
including CSIR-Central Salt & Marine Chemical Research Institute (CSMCRI), ICAR-
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and Border Security Force (BSF),
local fishermen, coastal communities. The DoF, GoI has also approved 03 projects viz. (i)
CSMCRI (Rs.53 lakh), (ii) CMFRI (Rs.95 lakh) and (ii) M/s TCS Purple Turtle Pvt. Ltd.
(Rs.68 lakh) for initiating the feasibility study of seaweed cultivation in Kori Creek areas
and to initiate awareness and training for local fishermen, coastal communities. A training
program on seaweed culture was organized at Lakki Village in the Creek areas of Gulf of
Kutch on 05thJune, 2023, wherein 250 villagers of 10 nearby villages (Lakhpat, Narayan
Sarovar, Lakki, Medi, Rodasar, Piper, Malerasi, Gunau, Jakhau, Ashiravandh) have
participated. Subsequently, a National Conference on Seaweed was organized on 27
January, 2024 at Kori Creek, Gujarat wherein nearly 450 seaweed farmers, scientists,
representatives from Departments/Ministries, Govt. of Gujarat and other coastal
States/UTs have participated. The ICAR-CMFRI organized a unique master trainer
development programme of first batch of local (Kori Creek, Gujarat) people from
23.01.2024 to 15.02.2024 at Mandapam and Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu on implementing good
management practices (GMPs) in seaweed farming technologies.
Government of Gujarat has informed that State Government also have a scheme
on seaweed cultivations since 2018 and during FY 2025-26, one seaweed bank and
seaweed processing unit have also been approved under the scheme to strengthen the
market linkages in the State. The State Govt of Gujarat is collaborating with ICAR-CMFRI
on GIS-Driven Spatial Zonation and Sea-Space Governance Framework for Sustainable
Mariculture Development in Gujarat, especially for promotion of seaweed-based activities
under Viksit Gujarat Fund. Besides, The Govt of Gujarat has approved Kamdhenu
University, Gandhinagar-Gujarat as a "Center of Excellence in Seaweed Research and
Utilization".
***