Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) in affiliation with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), has identified 342 potential sites for seaweed cultivation in India. The institute asserts that India, with its vast coastline, has the capacity to produce a staggering 9.7 million tonnes of seaweed annually, a stark contrast to the mere 34,000 tonnes produced last year.
Highlighting the significance of scaling up seaweed farming, Dr. A Gopalakrishnan, Director of ICAR-CMFRI, emphasized its potential as a major contributor to the global seaweed production, valued at billions of dollars. He noted that the global seaweed production in 2022 reached 35 million tonnes, generating approximately USD 16.5 billion.
The Indian government has allocated Rs 640 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to promote seaweed culture. The targeted production is set to exceed 11.2 lakh tonnes by 2025, according to Dr. Gopalakrishnan.
Dr. Gopalakrishnan highlighted the success of the Integrated Multi-trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) practice developed by CMFRI. IMTA enables cage farming or bivalve farming in conjunction with seaweed farming in coastal waters. He believes that this technology will play a pivotal role in popularizing and enhancing seaweed farming across coastal states.
The meeting also underscored the importance of bivalve farming, a non-conventional aquaculture practice. In 2021, India’s bivalve production reached 98,000 tonnes. Notably, CMFRI’s recent achievements include the commercial production of green and brown mussel seeds and cultchless spat production of edible oysters with a high survival rate at Vizhinjam. More than 6,000 women self-help groups are now involved in bivalve farming under CMFRI’s guidance.