3-February-2024-Special-Article

NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PROMOTION OF SEAWEED CULTIVATION

The National Conference on Promotion of Seaweed Cultivation recently convened in Koteshwar (Kori Creek), Kutch, Gujarat, with a focus on fostering seaweed cultivation across India. The initiative aims to diversify marine production and enhance the income of fish farmers.

Key Points:

Seaweeds Overview:

• Seaweeds are marine algae, multicellular, and macroscopic, presenting in various colors like red, green, and brown.
• Often referred to as the ‘Medical Food of the 21st Century.’
• Distributed in intertidal regions, shallow and deep sea waters, estuaries, and backwaters.
• Some species are cultivated for producing agar, alginates, and liquid seaweed fertilizer.

Seaweed Species in India:

• India boasts around 844 reported seaweed species.
• Gelidiella acerosa, Gracilaria spp., Sargassum spp., Turbinaria spp., and Cystoseira trinodis are specific species cultivated for various applications.
• Agar and alginate are derived from red and brown algae, respectively, used in food products and other industries.

Major Seaweed Beds:

• Abundant seaweed resources along Tamil Nadu and Gujarat coasts, Lakshadweep, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
• Notable beds around Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa, Karwar, Varkala, Vizhinjam, and Pulicat.

Significance of Seaweeds:

• Bio-indicators, absorbing excess nutrients and indicating marine chemical damage.
• Nutritionally rich, used in diverse food products, and containing anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents.
• Utilized in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, bioplastics, offering sustainable alternatives.
• Carbon capture potential, contributing to climate change mitigation.
• Source of livelihoods for coastal communities, especially women and small-scale farmers.

Government Initiatives:

• Seaweed Mission: Aims to commercialize seaweed farming, enhance value addition, and increase cultivation along India’s coastline.
• Commercialization of Seaweed Products: ICAR-CMFRI has successfully commercialized nutraceutical products with anti-viral and cholesterol-fighting properties.
• Multi-Purpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu: A government initiative focusing on seaweed farming and processing for various applications.

Conclusion:

The conference sheds light on the untapped potential of seaweed cultivation in India, offering not only economic benefits but also environmental advantages.

Seaweeds emerge as versatile resources with applications ranging from food to bioproducts, indicating a promising avenue for sustainable marine practices.

The government’s initiatives align with harnessing this potential and promoting seaweed cultivation as a vital component of India’s marine economy.

Mains Question:

1. “Discuss the significance of seaweed cultivation in India and its potential contributions to sustainable marine practices, with reference to the recent National Conference on Promotion of Seaweed Cultivation held in Koteshwar, Gujarat.” (150 WORDS).