**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1456 in Lok Sabha on December 9th, 2025, regarding seaweed cultivation and parks in India. It outlines the Government's initiatives, progress, and plans concerning seaweed cultivation. The Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying addresses the questions, providing state-wise details on surveyed areas, cultivation activities, and related schemes.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Seaweed Cultivation Potential and Mapping:**
* India has significant potential for seaweed cultivation with a 11,099 km coastline.
* ICAR-CMFRI and CSIR-CSMCRI are responsible for site identification and mapping.
* 384 potential sites covering 24,707 hectares have been identified across coastal States/UTs. Detailed state-wise areas are at Annexure-I.
* **Current Cultivation and PMMSY:**
* Tamil Nadu is the leading state in seaweed production; state-wise cultivation data is in Annexure-II.
* The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) promotes seaweed cultivation.
* Projects worth ₹195.00 crore have been approved for seaweed cultivation and related activities under PMMSY between 2020-2025.
* **Stakeholder Engagement and Species Cultivated:**
* Around 503 coastal villages covering about 7698 members are involved in seaweed cultivation. Details are in Annexure-III.
* The main species cultivated are *Kappaphycus alvarezii* and *Gracilaria edulis*.
* Seaweed production was 74,083 tonnes in 2024.
* PMMSY encourages women and youth participation through Self Help Groups/cooperatives.
* **Multipurpose Seaweed Park (Tamil Nadu):**
* A park has been sanctioned in Tamil Nadu at a total cost of ₹127.71 crore.
* It includes Hub-I in Ramanathapuram District, Hub-II in Pudukottai District, and spoke-level infrastructure across other districts.
* Approximately 50% of civil works are completed with an expenditure of ₹31.28 crore.
* Hub-I is expected to be completed by January 2026, and Hub-II by July 2026.
* **Additional Seaweed Parks and Proposals:**
* No proposals are pending for setting up additional Seaweed Parks.
* A proposal for an Integrated Aquapark approved for Andhra Pradesh under PMMSY includes a seaweed park component.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Coastal States/UTs**
* **Impact:** States with coastlines benefit from the potential for economic growth through seaweed cultivation, supported by government schemes and research.
* **Action Required:** States/UTs should submit proposals along with Detailed Project Reports and requisite documents under PMMSY.
**Stakeholder: Farmers and Self Help Groups**
* **Impact:** Farmers and SHGs can improve their livelihoods and family income through seaweed cultivation activities.
* **Action Required:** Engage in seaweed cultivation through Self Help Groups/cooperatives.
**Stakeholder: Research Institutes (ICAR-CMFRI, CSIR-CSMCRI)**
* **Impact:** Institutes are responsible for identifying suitable locations and providing technical assistance, crucial for sustainable seaweed cultivation.
* **Action Required:** Institutes should continue research, training, and capacity building.
**Stakeholder: Government of Tamil Nadu**
* **Impact:** Responsible for the implementation and management of the approved Multipurpose Seaweed Park in the state.
* **Action Required:** Ensure timely completion of the Multipurpose Seaweed Park projects and manage seaweed farming villages efficiently.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A scheme implemented by the Department of Fisheries focused on promoting seaweed cultivation, among other fisheries-related activities.
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The ministry responsible for policies and programs related to fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying, including seaweed cultivation.
Tamil Nadu: A state with significant seaweed production and where a Multipurpose Seaweed Park has been sanctioned.
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI): A research institute involved in site identification and mapping for seaweed cultivation.
CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI): A research institute involved in site identification and mapping for seaweed cultivation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1456
TO BE ANSWERED ON 9TH DECEMBER, 2025
Seaweed Cultivation and Parks
1456. Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas:
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be pleased to
state:
(a) the total area surveyed, mapped and found suitable for seaweed cultivation in the
country, State-wise;
(b) the area currently under active cultivation during the last five years, year and State-
wise;
(c) the number of coastal villages, SHGs, women groups and individual farmers engaged
in seaweed cultivation, including the details of species cultivated, production volumes
and value of output, State-wise;
(d) the details and the current status of the Multipurpose Seaweed Park approved in Tamil
Nadu including project components, total cost, funds sanctioned, released and utilised,
timeline of completion and the reasons for delays, if any;
(e) whether the Government proposes to set up additional Seaweed Parks under
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) or any other scheme, if so, the States
shortlisted, criteria used, DPR status and the time by which it is likely to be implemented;
and
(f) whether the Government have any proposals from other coastal States including
Andhra Pradesh are pending for approval, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI RAJIV RANJAN SINGH ALIAS LALAN SINGH)
(a): India with coastline of 11,099 km has immense potential for seaweed cultivation. The
site identification and mapping are carried out by research institutes namely ICAR–
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and CSIR–Central Salt and Marine
Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI). It is informed that as on date total of 384
potential sites covering 24707 ha area have been identified for seaweed cultivation
across the Coastal States/UTs. The detailed State-wise area identified by CMFRI and
CSMCRI are at Annexure-I.(b): The major leading State with significant seaweed production is Tamil Nadu. As
reported by Government of Tamil Nadu and ICAR-CMFRI, the area currently under active
cultivation during the last five years, year and State-wise is at Annexure-II. In addition,
under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) implemented by the
Department of Fisheries, GoI, promotion of seaweed cultivation is one of the focus areas.
Under the PMMSY, during last 5 years (2020-25) the projects worth ₹195.00 crore have
been approved towards seaweed cultivation and its allied activities. This included
installation of seaweed rafts and monoline in the Coastal States/UTs, establishment of a
Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu and seaweed seed bank in U.T. of Dadra
Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, pilot projects on seaweed to R&D Institutes and Coastal
States/UTs to facilitate feasibility studies, training and capacity building.
(c): The main species cultivated are Kappaphycus alvarezii and Gracilaria edulis. As
reported by Government of Tamil Nadu, ICAR-CMFRI and CSIR-CSMCRI, currently
there are about 503 coastal villages covering about 7698 members under various SHGs,
Women groups and as individual farmers engaged in seaweed cultivation leading to
country’s seaweed production of 74,083 tonnes in 2024. The State-wise details of Nos.
of villages, members involved in seaweed cultivation is at Annexure-III.
Further, the PMMSY encourages participation of women and youth through Self Help
Groups/cooperatives in seaweed cultivation to enhance the livelihood and family income
in all potential coastal States/UTs. As on date, the Department of Fisheries, GoI has
accorded approvals to the proposals of Government of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, UT of Lakshadweep, UT of Andaman & Nicobar
Islands and UT of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu for seaweed cultivation.
(d): The Multipurpose Seaweed Park has been sanctioned in Tamil Nadu at a total project
cost of ₹127.71 crore to support large-scale seaweed cultivation, processing, and value
addition. The project comprises of a Hub-I facility at Valamavur in Ramanathapuram
District for seaweed seed multiplication, a Hub-II facility at Manganur in Pudukottai
District for processing and value-added product development, and a spoke-level
infrastructure in seaweed farming villages across Thoothukudi, Ramanathapuram,
Pudukottai, and Thanjavur districts. The Government of Tamil Nadu has informed that
approximately 50% of the civil works have been completed, with an expenditure of ₹31.28
crore incurred to date. The remaining works are underway, and the facilities are expected
to be completed by January 2026 for Hub-I and July 2026 for Hub-II.
(e)&(f): Under PMMSY, proposal along with Detailed Project Report and requisite
documents are submitted by the respective States/UTs. There is no such proposal
pending in this Department for setting up of additional Seaweed Parks. It is further
informed that proposal of Integrated Aquapark approved for Government of Andhra
Pradesh during FY 2022-2023 under PMMSY already includes a sub component for
establishment of Seaweed Park.Annexure-I
Statement referred in the part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1456 for answer
on 9th December, 2025 regarding ‘Seaweed Cultivation and Park’.
CMFRI CSMCRI
Sl.
State/UT Area (in Area (in Total Area
No.
hectares) hectares)
1 Andaman And Nicobar Islands - 16.5 16.5
2 Andhra Pradesh 1332 23 1355
3 Diu 404.47 - 404.47
4 Goa 119.19 8.76 127.95
5 Gujarat 10582.13 122 10704.13
6 Karnataka 1273.38 6.67 1280.05
7 Kerala 79.67 7.86 87.53
8 Lakshadweep 212.8 - 217.8
9 Maharashtra 2715.9 155.41 2871.31
10 Odisha 1483.76 - 1483.76
11 Puducherry 382.53 - 382.53
12 Tamil Nadu 5217.24 115 5332.24
13 West Bengal 448.84 - 448.84
Total 24,251.90 455.2 24707.11
Annexure-II
Statement referred in the part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1456 for answer
on 9th December, 2025 regarding ‘Seaweed Cultivation and Park’.
Area (in Ha)
Year
2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
69.26 87.96 99.94 104.18 107.93
Tamil Nadu
Maharashtra - 0.12 0.21 0.12 -
Gujarat - 1.41 2.32 3.94 5.86
Odisha 0.40 0.20 - - -
Andhra Pradesh 1.01 1.01 1.01 1.01
Karnataka 0.04 0.04 0.04 - -
Lakshadweep 0.0016 0.020 0.028 0.008 0.008Annexure-III
Statement referred in the part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1456 for answer
on 9th December, 2025 regarding ‘Seaweed Cultivation and Park’.
Number of
Active
Year coastal villages
members
reported
475 7230
Tamil Nadu
21 378
Gujarat
Andhra Pradesh 5 50
Lakshadweep
2 40
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