Abstract
India, with its vast 11,000 km coastline and rich marine biodiversity, holds immense potential to become a global leader in seaweed farming. Yet, despite promising socio-economic and ecological benefits, the industry remains modest in scale due to regulatory gaps, technological limitations, market instability, and socio-political challenges.
This two-part study first conducts a Gap Analysis to identify the key barriers limiting India’s seaweed industry, ranging from unclear marine spatial policies and limited financial support to gender disparities and environmental misperceptions. Case studies from Tamil Nadu, Palk Bay, and Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems highlight both successes and vulnerabilities.
Building on this diagnosis, the accompanying White Paper outlines a strategic roadmap for unlocking India’s seaweed potential. It proposes targeted interventions across governance, finance, infrastructure, and technology — including marine spatial planning, site-specific cultivation models, capacity building, and value-added product development. Together, the papers demonstrate how India can transform seaweed aquaculture into a driver of sustainable livelihoods, food security, renewable energy, and climate resilience, positioning the country as a global hub in the blue economy.
Gap Analysis 2A
White Paper 2A
