Lok Sabha Question No. 371 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-22
Subject: Development of Seaweed in Coastal Areas
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala

## MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 371 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22 ND  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),  ICARCentral 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 05 th June, 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".

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