Resources of , and Lakshadweep

Seaweeds are living and re­ technologies for culture of com­ ches in the intertidal and subti- newable marine resources mercially important species of dal . Many species of red, which have tremenedous com­ . green and brown are mercial importance. Seaweeds found growing here. Information on seaweed re­ are macroscopic algae that grow sources of certain maritime In the area north of Thirimul- in the littoral and sublittoral states such as Tamil Nadu, Guja­ lavaram up to Parapanagadi the areas of marine environment rat, , and Lak­ is sandy and the seawall when there is a suitable rocky shadweep is available but not laid with granite stones have or substratum. Based on much data has been collected en helped some seaweeds to settle the type of pigmentation they the seaweeds occurring along down on them. North of Para­ are mainly divided into green, the Kerala coast. Recently a de­ panagadi up to Cannanore rocks brown and red algae. Seaweeds tailed survey was carried out by and granite stones occur in the are known since time immemo­ a team of scientists and techni­ littoral and sublittoral regions rial as food, fodder and manure cians of CMFRI led by Dr V S K in some places where seaweeds in many of the countries of Eu­ Chennubhotla from Kollamkode are found to be growing abun­ rope, and -Pa­ to Manjeshwar to understand dantly. Beyond Cannanore the cific . Seaweeds contain the substrata and resources ava­ coast is sandy up to Manje­ more than 60 trace elements, ilable. The entire coastline of shwar. protein in different concentra­ 600 km were covered and 35 tions, vitamins and several bio- Out of the total density of species were recorded. Mainly active substances. Marine algae 1000 tonnes^jseaweeds 15% 4 types of substrata are found form an important raw material was economically important, in this coast. In the southern for the extraction of phytoche- agrophytes formed 27 ton­ part of Kerala, from Poovar to micals such as agar agar, algin, nes followed by alginophytes Thirumullavaram, the coast is manittol etc. and agaroidophytes. The mostly sandy. However in this abundance of seaweeds in this The seaweed resources along area different kinds of rocks and coast appears to be low compar­ the coast line of India are dis­ granite stones are found in pat­ ed to other seaweed areas of the tributed in Tamil Nadu, and Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar islands. Fairly rich seaweed beds are also present in Bombay, Ratnagiri, Goa, Kar- war, Varkala, , Vizhin- jam, Visakhapatnam and a few other places in Chilka and Puli- cat lakes. In recent years a number of industries manufacturing phytic cdloids such as agar-agar and algin have come up in India. Since the information on the availability cf seaweed resources along the coast line will be useful to the Industry, CMFRI has been carrying out investiga­ tions on the occurrence and abundance of the resources in India. CMFRI has also developed The Seaweed growth on rocks along Cannanore coast

2 be made to augment this resour­ ce through culture practices. Adhoc Scheme on Seaweed Resources The Indian Council of Agricul­ tural Research has initiated a survey of seaweed resources off Lakshadweep, Andaman-Nicobar islands, Vishakapatnam and Chilka Lake areas. This adhoc scheme which is located at CMFRI, Cochin will make detail­ ed studies on the seaweed re­ sources and their biochemical aspects. Investigations have been carried out on the marine algae of Tamil Nadu and Lak­ shadweep. Such studies will The green seaweed Viva lectuca help in understanding the che­ mical composition of the algal country. However attempts can of seaweeds and three species of species based on which food and be nude to augment the re­ seagrasses of industrial impor­ feed formulations can be work­ source; by enhancing these tance in an area of 660 km in ed out. Considering the ever­ substn ta by artificial methods the depth range of 5.5 to 21.5m. growing demand for proteinrich in sonle potential areas. Out food for human consumption it A survey carried out in the of the 35 species of sea­ is necessary to properly utilise Lakshadweep islands in January- weeds occurring in Kerala the seaweed resources for the March 1987 gave information Gracilaria corticata and G. jo- benefit of mankind. about 80 species of algae such lifera pre put into some use as as Hypnea, Gelidiella & Geli- a manure for planta­ diopsis. tions \® Thikkkodi region. There is a possibility of introducing The coastal survey up to 4 m useful varieties from other re­ was done in collaboration with gions df the country in suitable CSMCRI, Bhavanagar and Tamil substrata. Nadu State Dept. of Fisheries and the deep water survey in col­ Along the southern parts laboration with CSMCRI, Bhava­ SmMBERII UMY of easj coast of India, stan­ nagar. Jto.eauf OH.SHOWTHf WOO0 . ding crop of seaweeds is New-Spasm Reported from 0K,HQWWESHMK ' /J&l found i to be abundant. A Kerala resource survey conducted During the recent surveys wwmmnm. - -^km HUM* PmjPl^'i \fiMm from Mandapam to Colachel along Kerala coast a very impor­ 10 YOU "'fcll and the adjoining islands in Gulf tant seaweed Porphyra kanya- of Marinar up to a depth of 4m kumariensis was found to be QMfMDTDnMXVBirf \ revealed a standing crop of growing in Varkala, Mullur and 22044 tonnes in the coastal area Elathur. This seaweed forms an wwmnmammwm of 17125 ha comprising agro- important food item in Japan. phytes, alginophytes and other mmmvBmmwmwmt In India this alga is reported Ike seaweed song of the wor­ seaweeds. The region between from Visakhapatnam, Goa, Gu­ Tuticorln and Tiruchendur had a kers of the Marine Colloids jarat, Colachel and Kanyaku- Philippines Incorporated; a standing crop of around 9100 mari. If it is acceptable for hu­ multinational seaweed indus­ tonnes consisting of 58 species man consumption, attempts can try in Cebu.

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