First successful trial of seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) cultivation in Karnataka, India

K. M. Rajesh; Sujitha  Thomas; Sunil Kumar Ail; Divya Viswambharan; K. S. Dharshan; U. A. Akhila; R. Harshitha; Abdul Luhai; A. P. Dineshbabu; B. Johnson; L. N. Narasimha Murthy; Grinson George

doi:10.21077/ijf.2025.72.4.169990-19

Authors

K. M. Rajesh ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
Sujitha Thomas ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
Sunil Kumar Ail ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
Divya Viswambharan ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
K. S. Dharshan ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
U. A. Akhila
R. Harshitha
Abdul Luhai ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
A. P. Dineshbabu ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
B. Johnson ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
L. N. Narasimha Murthy
Grinson George ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

https://doi.org/10.21077/ijf.2025.72.4.169990-19

Keywords:

Seaweed, Kappaphycus alvarezii, Karnataka

Abstract

This study highlights the successful raft-based cultivation of Kappaphycus alvarezii in the Yadamavinahole Estuary, Uppunda, Karnataka over a period of 72 days during pre-monsoon season (February to April, 2025). A total of 20 net tubes were deployed, yielding 180 kg of fresh biomass and the mean biomass per tube was 8.94 ± 0.10 kg. The growth performance was promising with a specific growth rate of 2.06±0.04% day⁻¹ and a daily growth rate of 2.16 ± 0.03% day⁻¹. Optimal water quality conditions supported consistent growth. The trial success underscores the potential for scalable seaweed farming in the region and provides essential insights for enhancing future commercial cultivation practices.

Keywords: Blue economy, Coastal communities, Commercial cultivation, Livelihoods

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

K. M. Rajesh, ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute

ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Mangalore Regional Centre, Mangaluru 575001

References

Biswas, G., Kumar, P., Kailasam, M., Ghoshal, T. K., Bera, A. and Vijayan, K. K. 2019. Application of Integrated Multi Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) concept in brackishwater ecosystem: The first exploratory trial in the Sundarban, India. J. Coast. Res., 86(SI): 49-55. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2112/SI86-007.1

Dash, B., Mojjada, S. K. and Rao, G. S. 2009. Integration of seaweed (Kappaphycus alvarezii) and pearl oyster (Pinctada fucata) along with Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer) in open sea floating cage off Andhra Pradesh coast. In: Course Manual: National Training on Cage Culture of Seabass, CMFRI & NFDB, Kochi, p. 57-59.

De, D. K. 2011. Estuarine fisheries. In: Handbook of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), p. 208-237.

FAO. 2024. The state of world Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024: Blue Transformation in action. Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.

FRAD, CMFRI. 2023. Technical Report. CMFRI Booklet Series No. 31/2023. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, India.

Ganesan, M., Shanmugham, K., Somasundaram, S. T., Ramachandran, K., Pazhanivel, B., Sajeevan, K., Felix, N., Mohamed, K. S., Rao, G. S. and Gopalakrishnan, A. 2013. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) in open sea cage farming along the Indian coast. CMFRI Special Publication, No. 114..

Johnson, B., Tamilmani, G., Divu, D., Mojjada, S. K., Megarajan, S., Ghosh, S., Koya, M., Muktha, M., Ignatius, B. and Gopalakrishnan, A. 2023a. Good management practices in seaweed farming. CMFRI Special Publication, 148. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi.

Johnson, B., Ranjith, L., Divu, D., Mojjada, S. K., Koya, M., Tamilmani, G., Ignatius, B., Suresh, V. V. R. and Gopalakrishnan, A. 2023b. Seaweed farming technologies. In: International Workshop cum Training on Fisheries and Aquaculture: African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO), CMFRI Training Manual Series, 35/2023: 210-216. ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi. ISBN 978-93-82263-62-3.

Kaladharan, P., Johnson, B., Nazar, A. K. A., Ignatius, B., Chakraborty, K. and Gopalakrishnan, A. 2019. Perspective plan of ICAR-CMFRI for promoting seaweed mariculture in India. Mar. Fish. Infor. Serv., T & E Ser., 240: 17-22.

Panicker, L. 2025. Seaweed farming: A path to empowering women. Hindustan Times Bengaluru, 8 June 2025. Available at: https://www.magzter.com/

Sarkar, S., Nila Rekha, P., Biswas, G., Nishan Raja, R., Sunny, A., Panigrahi, A., and Vijayan, K. K. 2022. Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA): A potential farming system to enhance production of the red seaweed Agarophyton tenuistipitatum (Chang and Xia) in brackishwater. In: Transforming Coastal Zone for Sustainable Food and Income Security: Proceedings of the International Symposium of ISCAR on Coastal Agriculture, March 16–19, 2021, Springer International Publishing, Cham, p. 537-552. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95618-9_40

Sukhdhane, K. S., Mohammed Koya, K., Divu, D., Mojjada, S. K., Vase, V. K., Sreenath, K. R., Kumari, S., Pradhan, R. K., Dash, G. and Kripa, V. 2017. Experimental cultivation of seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii using net-tube method. Mar. Fish. Infor. Serv., T & E Ser., 231: 9-11.

Yong, Y. S., Yong, W. T. L. and Anton, A. 2013. Analysis of formulae for determination of seaweed growth rate. J. Appl. Phycol., 25: 1831-1834. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-013-0022-7