In global terms, cultivation of microalgae is the fastest growing sector within aquaculture, but despite good natural conditions (cold, nutrient-rich waters), it is relatively underdeveloped in India.
AquaAgri is seeking to identify how to develop sustainable large-scale cultivation of macro algae in India .
Cultivation of macro algae has many advantages over land based biomass production.
Macro algae grow faster than terrestrial plants and are therefore more efficient at capturing carbon dioxide.
In addition, cultivation in the sea does not require fertilizer, pesticides or irrigation and does not occupy valuable arable land.
Out of approximately 700 species of marine algae found in both inter-tidal and deep water regions of the Indian coast, nearly 60 species are commercially important.
The seaweed industry in India is mainly a cottage industry and is based only on the natural stock of agar-yielding red seaweeds, such as Gelidiella acerosa and Gracilaria edulis, and algin yielding brown seaweeds species such as Sargassum and Tubineria. Currently most of the seaweed produced in India is used for plant growth factor,
Currently, seaweed production in India is primarily confined to the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay in Tamil Nadu,
There are two methods two methods of seaweed cultivation
1.Vegetative propagation method
2.Reproductive method
So far in India, only experimental scale cultivation of commercially important seaweeds such as Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria edulis, Hypnea musciform, Acanthophora spicifera and Saragassum species at different field environments using various culture techniques of vegetative propagation method. Sargassum plagiophyllum, Enteroporpha flexuosa, Ulva fasciata and Gracilaria edulis by reproductive method using spores were carried out successfully.
Only in recent years pilot scale culture of Kappaphycus alvarezii being carried out by Pepsi Co., in Mandapam area.
There are also rich seaweed beds around Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa, Karwar, Varkala, Vizhinjam, Pulicat and Chilka.
One of the major thrust component of PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) in association with National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) and State Department of Fisheries is making plans for marginal costal fisherwomen communities for encouraging seaweed cultivation at a large scale across several coastal States in the country.
In contrast to other forms of aquaculture, seaweed farming has minimum capital and technological requirements and provides important economic opportunities .