Farming of the seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii in Tamil Nadu coast - status and constraints

Kappaphycus alvarezii is one of the economically important red algae, which yields carageenan, a commercially important polysaccharide. Carrageenans are used in a variety of commercial applications as gelling, thickening, and stabilizing agents, especially in food products such as frozen desserts, chocolate milk, cottage cheese, whipped cream, instant products, jellies, pet foods and sauces. Besides, carrageenans are used in pharmaceutical formulations, cosmetics and industrial applications such as mining. Commercial cultivation of K. alvarezii originated in Philippines in the year 1960. Since then, countries like Japan, Indonesia, Tanzania, Fiji, Kiripati, Hawaii and South Africa have been cultivating this species on a large scale. In India, cultivation of this seaweed started at Mandapam on the south-east coast of India, during 1995–1997.