India with a 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). As on date, total of 384 potential sites covering 24707 ha area have been identified for seaweed cultivation across the Coastal States/UTs including Andhra Pradesh. The details of the potential area under active seaweed cultivation including Andhra Pradesh is given at Annexure-I.

(b)       The Department of Fisheries, Government of India is promoting seaweed cultivation, value addition and market linkages through its schemes, initiatives and policy measures. Under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) (implemented during 2020-21 to 2025-26) seaweed cultivation is supported as an priority activity and assistance is provided towards installation of rafts, monolines and tubenets, establishment of seaweed seed banks and hatcheries, setting up of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park, and support for training, capacity building, research and pre-feasibility studies.

(c):     The projects approved under PMMSY are at various stages of implementation at the State level. As per the details provided by the State Governments/Union Territories and research institutes, the details of beneficiaries covered under various SHGs, Women groups and as individual farmers including Andhra Pradesh is at Annexure-II.

(d) Under the PMMSY, during last 5 years (2020-25) the projects worth ₹198.17 crore have been approved towards seaweed cultivation and its allied activities. Out of the approved projects, details of funds allocated, sanctioned to States/UTs for development of seaweed farming and allied infrastructure across India during the last five years are at Annexure III.

 (e) to (f) The Department of Fisheries, Government of India is taking steps to enhance the domestic utilisation of seaweed, promote demand-led growth of the seaweed economy and increase awareness on seaweed farming. Additionally, 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 approved in Tamil Nadu is aimed at integrated cultivation, processing and product development, and encouragement of seaweed-based products for food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and agricultural uses. 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.

Awareness generation and capacity building for seaweed cultivation are being carried out through training, demonstrations, exposure visits and master trainer development programmes under  Good Management Practices (GMPs) organised by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB) in association with State Fisheries Departments and research institutes such as ICAR-CMFRI and CSIR-CSMCRI.  Government of Andhra Pradesh has informed that they have undertaken capacity building & skill development programmes for total 1,440 number of self Help Groups & fisherfolk in 12 Coastal Districts with financial assistance of GCF project and AFCOF-CBBO funds.

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Annexure-I

Statement  ‘Seaweed Cultivation’.

 

Year	Area (in Ha)
	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-II

 

Statement regarding ‘Seaweed Cultivation’.

Year	Members engaged in seaweed cultivation
Tamil Nadu	7230
Gujarat	378
Andhra Pradesh	120
Lakshadweep	40

 

Annexure-III

 

Statement regarding ‘Seaweed Cultivation’.

Table-1: Approved units of Establishment of Seaweed culture rafts including inputs

(Rs. In lakh)

Sl.N	Name of the States	Total of 2020-25 (till date)
		Physical (No.)	Proj. Cost	GoI Share
1	Andhra Pradesh	26000	390	115
2	Karnataka	10000	150	45
3	Lakshadweep	500	9	5
4	Maharashtra	1000	15	5
5	Tamil Nadu	9745	146.18	77
Total		47245	710.18	247

 

Table-2: Approved units for Establishment of Seaweed culture with Monoline/ tubenet Method including inputs

(Rs. In lakh)

Sl.N	Name of the States	Total of 2020-25 (till date)
		Physical (No.)	Proj. Cost	GoI Share	Expected Production (tonnes)
1	Andhra Pradesh	41200	3296	902	18,540
2	Gujarat	400	32	5	90
3	Karnataka	21000	1680	509	9,450
4	Lakshadweep	250	125	75	56
5	Tamil Nadu	1031	82	30	238.95
Total		63881	5215.00	1521	28374.95

 

 

Table-3: Approved units of new Seaweed banks

(Rs. In lakh)

Sl.N	Name of the States	2020-21
		Physical (No.)	Proj. Cost	GoI Share
1.	Daman & Diu*	1	120	120
Total		1	120	120

 

Table-4: Approved Establishment of Seaweed Park under Integrated Aquapark Component

 

(Rs. In lakh)

Sl.N	Name of the States	2022-23
		Physical (No.)	Proj. Cost	GoI Share
1	Tamil Nadu	1	12771	7516

 

This information was given by Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in the Lok Sabha today in response to a question asked.

 

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JP

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