Lok Sabha Question No. 1456 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-09
Subject: Seaweed Cultivation and Parks
Ministry: FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
Asked by: Shri Tangella Uday Srinivas

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1456 TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH  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 Statewise;
- (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  ICARCentral 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 9 th  December, 2025 regarding 'Seaweed Cultivation and Park'.

| Sl. No.   | State/UT                    | CMFRI Area (in hectares)   | CSMCRI Area (in hectares)   |   Total Area |
|-----------|-----------------------------|----------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------|
| 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                         |     10704.1  |
| 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                       |     24707.1  |

Annexure-II

Statement referred in the part (b) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1456 for answer on 9 th  December, 2025 regarding 'Seaweed Cultivation and Park'.

|                | Area (in Ha)   | Area (in Ha)   | Area (in Ha)   | Area (in Ha)   | Area (in Ha)   |
|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|----------------|
| Year           | 2020-2021      | 2021-2022      | 2022-2023      | 2023-2024      | 2024-2025      |
| Tamil Nadu     | 69.26          | 87.96          | 99.94          | 104.18         | 107.93         |
| 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          | 0.008          |

Annexure-III

Statement referred in the part (c) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1456 for answer on 9 th  December, 2025 regarding 'Seaweed Cultivation and Park'.

| Year           |   Number of coastal villages reported |   Active members |
|----------------|---------------------------------------|------------------|
| Tamil Nadu     |                                   475 |             7230 |
| Gujarat        |                                    21 |              378 |
| Andhra Pradesh |                                     5 |               50 |
| Lakshadweep    |                                     2 |               40 |

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