Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying addresses seaweed cultivation in India, highlighting its potential, ongoing initiatives under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and research efforts. The document provides details on seaweed cultivation locations, production increases, and measures to develop climate-resilient varieties. It also acknowledges the nascent stage of seaweed cultivation in Andhra Pradesh and outlines governmental support for advancing the sector.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Seaweed Cultivation Potential and Government Initiatives:**
* India has a 11,099 km coastline with potential for seaweed production of 9.7 million tonnes annually.
* The PMMSY supports seaweed cultivation for employment generation and income for fishermen and coastal communities, with projects worth ₹195 crore approved, including a Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu (₹127.71 crore).
* Financial assistance is provided under PMMSY for seaweed culture units, seed banks, post-harvest facilities, laboratories, training complexes, and capacity building.
* Lakshadweep is notified as a Seaweed Cluster, and ICAR-CMFRI Mandapam Regional Centre is the Centre of Excellence for seaweed farming.
* Guidelines for seaweed germplasm import have been issued.
* NITI Aayog released a Seaweed Policy Report, and an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) have been established.
* **Seaweed Cultivation Locations and Production:**
* Seaweed cultivation mainly occurs in Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Lakshadweep, with pilot projects in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
* Seaweed production increased from 18,890 tonnes in 2015 to 74,083 tonnes in 2024.
* 384 suitable sites (24,707 hectares) for seaweed cultivation have been identified, including 40 sites (1355 ha) in Andhra Pradesh.
* Pilot studies in Andhra Pradesh are taking place in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Bapatla, and SPSR Nellore districts.
* **Climate Change Impact and Mitigation:**
* ICAR-CMFRI is studying to improve seaweed farming techniques for Kappaphycus and Gracilaria.
* Government is promoting advanced cultivation techniques, establishing seed banks, facilitating germplasm import, and strengthening R&D through institutions like ICAR-CMFRI.
* Guidelines for importing live seaweeds were issued in October 2024.
Impact Analysis:
* **Fishermen and Coastal Communities:**
* *Impact:* Potential for employment generation and additional income through seaweed cultivation supported by PMMSY.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training and capacity building programs to adopt seaweed cultivation techniques.
* **State Government of Andhra Pradesh:**
* *Impact:* Support for pilot-stage seaweed cultivation with identified suitable sites.
* *Action Required:* Continue pilot studies and collaborate with research institutions to develop the seaweed sector.
* **Research Institutions (ICAR-CMFRI, CSIR-CSMCRI, NIOT, NCSCM):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for research and development to improve farming techniques, develop climate-resilient varieties, and support seed bank establishment.
* *Action Required:* Conduct studies, provide technical assistance, and collaborate on R&D efforts for seaweed cultivation.
* **Seaweed Farmers/Entrepreneurs:**
* *Impact:* Access to financial assistance, quality germplasm, and advanced cultivation techniques to enhance productivity.
* *Action Required:* Utilize the available resources and follow guidelines for seaweed cultivation, including import of germplasm.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying: The Indian government ministry responsible for fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying.
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): A flagship scheme of the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, aimed at supporting employment generation and providing additional income to fishermen and coastal communities through activities like seaweed cultivation.
ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI): An Indian research institute that has assessed India's seaweed production capacity and is involved in studies to improve seaweed farming techniques.
Tamil Nadu: An Indian state where a Seaweed Park worth ₹127.71 crore is being established under the PMMSY.
Lakshadweep: A Union Territory of India that has been notified as a Seaweed Cluster.
Andhra Pradesh: An Indian state where pilot studies of seaweed cultivation are taking place.
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India that has released a Seaweed Policy Report for the overall development of the seaweed sector.
Gujarat: An Indian state where seaweed cultivation is mainly reported.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 4268
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19th August, 2025
Seaweed Cultivation
4268. Shri B K Parthasarathi :
Will the Minister of FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING be
pleased to state:
(a) the details regarding the volume of seaweed cultivated in the country during the last
five years, year and State-wise;
(b) the details regarding the list of locations in Andhra Pradesh where seaweed is
cultivated;
(c) the details regarding the locations identified for offshore and onshore seaweed
cultivation as per feasibility studies conducted by the Government;
(d) whether the Government has carried out any assessment of the impact of climate
change on the yield and productivity of seaweed cultivation;
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor, State-wise especially for
Andhra Pradesh; and
(f) the measures being taken by the Government to develop the climate-resilient varieties
of seaweed germlings?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(SHRI GEORGE KURIAN)
(a) to (c): Indian coastline of 11,099 km with favourable conditions has immense potential
for seaweed cultivation. As per ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
(CMFRI), India has a potential seaweed production capacity of about 9.7 million tonnes
annually. The Department of Fisheries, Government of India (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 (₹127.71 crore) in Tamil Nadu. Besides,
financial assistance is provided under PMMSY for installation of seaweed culture units
(rafts, monoline/tubenet systems), establishment of seaweed seed banks, post-harvest
facilities such as drying platforms, baling units and storage godowns, laboratories for water
testing and germplasm quarantine, and training complexes with incubation centres, pre-
feasibility assessment studies, awareness creation, training and capacity building
programs in various States/Union Territories (UTs). Furthermore, Lakshadweep has been
notified as a Seaweed Cluster, and the Mandapam Regional Centre of the ICAR-CMFRI
has been notified as the Centre of Excellence for promoting seaweed farming, training and
research activities.The Guidelines for import of seaweed germplasm have been issued by the DoF, GoI.
Besides, the NITI Ayog has released a Seaweed Policy Report for the overall development
of this promising sector in the country. 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. The seaweed cultivation is mainly reported from Tamil
Nadu, Gujarat and Lakshadweep, whereas the pilot scale projects have been undertaken
in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. As a result of
these initiatives, the seaweed production has increased from 18,890 tonnes in 2015 to
74,083 tonnes in 2024.
The Research Institutions have identified 384 suitable sites covering 24,707 hectares
across the coastline of India for seaweed cultivation including 40 sites (1355 ha.) along
the Andhra Pradesh coastline. State Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that
seaweed sector in Andhra Pradesh is still at the pilot stage, and the pilot studies of
seaweed cultivation are taking place at following 04 locations:
Sl.No. District Mandal Location
1 Srikakulam Etcherla Budagatlapalem
2 Visakhapatnam Bheemili R K Beach
3 Bapatla Chinaganjam Yetimoga
4 SPSR Nellore Ulavapadu Ramayapatnam
(d) to (f): The ICAR-CMFRI has informed that studies are being undertaken to improve the
farming techniques and production efficiency of different species of seaweeds viz.,
Kappaphycus and Gracilaria. As the seaweed sector in Andhra Pradesh is still at nascent
stage, no such studies have been taken up by the Government of Andhra Pradesh. The
Government is promoting advanced cultivation techniques through tissue/spore culture,
establishing multi-species seed banks, facilitating import of quality germplasm, and
strengthening R&D through ICAR-CMFRI Centre of Excellence, CSIR-CSMCRI, National
Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and National Centre for Sustainable Coastal
Management (NCSCM), etc. Besides, the Department of Fisheries, Government of India
(DoF, GoI) in October, 2024 has issued the ‘Guidelines for Import of Live Seaweeds into
India’ to facilitate import of high-quality seed materials or germplasm from abroad,
enabling domestic multiplication for ensuring farmers have access to quality seed stock.
***