Seaweed research and utilization in India

Seaweeds are macroscopic algae, which form an important component of the marine living resource. They are available largely in shallow coastal waters wherever there is a substratum on which they can grow and flourish. Based on their pigmentation, the seaweeds are broadly grouped into green, brown, red and blue-green algae. They are harvested by man for centuries, particularly in Japan and China, where they form a part of the staple diet. The uses of seaweeds as food, fodder and manure are well known in many countries. Marine algae contain more than 60 trace elements in a concentration much higher than in terrestrial plants. They also contain protein, iodine, bromine, vitamins and substances of stimulatory and antibiotic nature.