changeadminIndia has identified 384 potential sites covering 24,707 ha for seaweed farming along its 11,099 km coastline.
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).
The Indian government’s Department of Fisheries is promoting seaweed cultivation, value addition and market linkages through various schemes, initiatives and policy measures.
In June 2020, the Government of India launched a flagship scheme, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with a total investment of Rs. 20,050 crore to promote the fisheries sector.
Under the PMMSY, implemented during 2020-21 to 2025-26, seaweed cultivation is supported as a priority activity, and assistance is provided towards the installation of rafts, monolines and tubenets, establishment of seaweed seed banks and hatcheries.
In the last 5 years (2020-25), the scheme approved projects totalling ₹198.17 crore for seaweed farming in India, with Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu accounting for the majority share.
Additionally, support is provided for establishing a Multipurpose Seaweed Park, as well as for training, capacity building, research, and pre-feasibility studies.
The Department of Fisheries is taking steps to enhance the domestic utilisation of seaweed, promote demand-led growth of the seaweed economy and increase awareness of seaweed farming in India.
Awareness generation and capacity building for seaweed farming are delivered through training, demonstrations, exposure visits, and master trainer development programmes.
These are organised by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in association with State Fisheries Departments and research institutes such as ICAR-CMFRI and CSIR-CSMCRI.
In October 2024, the Department of Fisheries also issued guidelines for importing seaweed germplasm, allowing the import of high-quality seed strains.
Furthermore, Lakshadweep has been designated as a Seaweed Cluster, and the Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has been notified as a Centre of Excellence for seaweed development to strengthen research, technology dissemination and skill development.
The Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu aims to support integrated cultivation, processing, and product development, and to encourage the use of seaweed-based products in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and agricultural applications.
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