Seaweeds

Why in news?

• Large-scale farming of indigenous seaweeds has been launched in Lakshadweep under the guidance of premier marine research body Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) headquartered in Kochi.

About Seaweeds:

• Seaweed is the common name for countless species of marine plants & algae that grow in the ocean as well as in rivers, lakes, & other water bodies.
• They are macrophytic which mean they live in water or moist land surfaces.
• They generally grow in the shallow waters in the tidal zone.
• Some seaweeds are microscopic, such as the phytoplankton that live suspended in the water column.
• Some are enormous, like the giant kelp that grow in abundant “forests” from their roots at the bottom.
• Seaweeds exhibit highest photosynthesis efficiency due to moist conditions.
• They contribute to about 50% of all photosynthesis in the world.

Commercial Use:

• Seaweed contain of vitamins, minerals, and fibre.
• Many seaweeds contain anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents.
• They are known to process significant medicinal effects.
• Certain seaweeds possess powerful cancer-fighting agents.
• They are effective binding agents (emulsifiers) and are used commercial goods as toothpaste and fruit jelly, and popular softeners (emollients) in organic cosmetics and skin-care products
• Seaweed may be used as fertilizer, compost for landscaping, or to combat beach erosion through burial in beach dunes.

Potential:

• Provide occupation for the coastal people.
• Provide continues supply of raw material for seaweed-based industry.
• Seaweed farming is eco-friendly.
• Ocean afforestation:
  • It is a proposal for farming seaweed for carbon removal. After harvesting the seaweed decomposes into biogas, (60% methane and 40% carbon dioxide) in an anaerobic digester.
  • The methane can be used as a biofuel, while the carbon dioxide can be stored to keep it from the atmosphere.
  • Seaweed grows quickly and takes no space on land. Afforesting 9% of the ocean could sequester 53 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually.
• Seaweed is under consideration as a potential source of bioethanol

Seaweed in India:

• The Indian coastline, with its different coastal ecosystems, supports luxuriant growth of diverse seaweed populations, having considerable economic importance.
• About 844 seaweed species are reported from India which has a coastline of 7,500 km.
• On the West Coast, especially in Gujarat, abundant resources are present on the intertidal & subtidal regions.
• These resources have great potential for the development of seaweed-based industries in India.
• Tamil Nadu, Gujarat coasts, Lakshadweep & Andaman & Nicobar Islands are abundant in seaweed.
• Rich seaweed beds are also found around Mumbai, Ratnagiri, Goa, Karwar, Varkala, Vizhinjam and Pulicat in Tamil Nadu and Chilka in Orissa.
• Gulf of Mannar is home to more than 240 seaweed varieties out of which at least 185 are edible ones.

About Seaweed Mission:

• It has been launched for commercial farming of seaweeds and its processing for value addition towards boosting the national economy.
• It envisages following activities:
  • Establishing model demonstration farms over one hectare for cultivation of economically important seaweeds in nearshore and onshore along the Indian coast.
  • Establishment of seaweed nurseries for supplying seed material for large scale farming of economically important seaweeds in the country.
  • Establishment and demonstration of processing technologies/recipes for edible seaweeds in line with consumer acceptability or cultural food habits.
  • An activity on seaweed cluster development including value chain development, supply chain development, collection of data on environmental, economic and social impacts of seaweed projects in the country.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding ‘seaweeds’?

1.  They can be used for reducing local ocean acidification.

2. They are used to remove undesired nutrients from water.

3. They are consumed in various parts of the world.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer