Core Strategies and Implementation Framework for Nursery Development to Support Commercial Farming of Kappaphycus alvarezii (Rhodophyta) in India

Commercial seaweed farming in India began in 1984 and expanded after experimental trials in the late 1990s, with Kappaphycus alvarezii cultivation emerging in 2001. Production peaked in 2013 but subsequently declined because of challenges including mass mortality, with current dry production estimated at 200–300 t annually. To revive the sector, Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) proposed an investment of USD 76.8 million to achieve 1.12 Mt fresh biomass by 2025. However, expansion is constrained by inadequate availability of quality planting material (QPM), highlighting the need for dedicated seaweed nurseries. To meet 60% of the PMMSY target, approximately 66 nurseries, each producing 102 tons of fresh biomass annually, would be required (model-based projections from laboratory data, not yet validated at commercial scale in India). This would require an estimated 13,254 trained laboratory workers and 13,539 field workers, potentially generating employment equivalent to 0.27% of India’s marine fishers. Successful implementation will require coordinated support from government agencies, research institutions, private enterprises, and NGOs, along with subsidies and incentives for entrepreneurs. Establishing seaweed nurseries can ensure reliable QPM, strengthen raw material supply, create employment, and support India’s seaweed industry toward achieving PMMSY targets and long-term sustainability through resource-efficient nursery infrastructure and training.